The Ottoman Empire

Children's Literature

This book is part of the "Life During the Great Civilization" series devoted to describing the people and experiences of various empires. The book is full of intricate illustrations that depict all aspects of life in the Ottoman Empire from attire to daily transactions. The text is extremely thorough and informative. Not only does the author, Lucile Davis, provide facts about the legal system, architecture, household and so forth that one would expect to find in such a book but she also inserts interesting trivia as well such as the process for creating glazed tiles. The text is straightforward and accompanied by colorful images and photographs on every page. There is a basic map and a glossary at the end and the new vocabulary is all italicized. This book is both visually stimulating and educational; a good choice for a child seeking an introduction to the Ottoman Empire. 2004, Blackbirch Press/The Gale Group, Ages 8 to 10.
—Rihoko Ueno