Sokollu Mehmed Pasha - Mirasium English

Science & History of Science, Cultural Heritage, History & Culture, History of Natural Sciences, Intellectual History, Ottoman History, Technology and Society, Turkish-Islamic Science

Istanbul’s Lost Star: Taqi al-Din and Dar al-Rasad al-Jadid

1577 Istanbulda Gorulen Kuyruklu Yildiza Ait Minyatur

Discover the rise and tragic destruction of Taqi al-Din’s 16th-century Istanbul observatory—the pinnacle of Ottoman astronomy, advanced instruments, political intrigue, and a lost scientific revolution.

Fatih Ars
January 16, 2026

History & Culture, Ottoman History

Slavery in the Ottoman Empire: From Slave to Royal Consort and Grand Vizier

Inspecting New Arrivals by Giulio Rosati 2

Explore the unique nature of slavery in the Ottoman Empire. This article examines the kul and devshirme systems, the legal rights of slaves, and the extraordinary social mobility that allowed individuals like Hürrem Sultan and Sokollu Mehmed Pasha to rise from servitude to the heights of imperial power.

Mirasium
October 9, 2025