Ottoman Empire Vocabulary

Question 1

Slave-sergeant system of the Ottoman Empire

Answer 1

Kul

Question 2

Levy of Balkan Christian boys

Answer 2

Devshirme

Question 3

Community of Christian and Jewish (non-Muslim) inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire, according to the Ottoman system of grouping its subjects according to their religion. The millet was considered a legal-administrative unit by the Ottomans.

Answer 3

Millet

Question 4

The class of Muslim learned men; doctors of law, theology, and jurosprudence

Answer 4

Ulema

Question 5

Title of the central office of Ottoman government

Answer 5

Porte

Question 6

Highest honorific title of rank

Answer 6

Pasha

Question 7

Muslim school of higher learning

Answer 7

Medrese

Question 8

The Sultan’s personal and professional army corps made up of Christain boys recruited through the devshirme

Answer 8

Janissaries

Question 9

Building used to house merchants, their goods, and fheir animals while on the road or at the end of a journey. Large caravanserai were often built in the middle of a city’s suq (market) as a gift of rich families or entities.

Answer 9

Caravanserai

Question 10

The Sultans right hand or in modern parlance, is his Prime Minister. Title and position of great power and presteige in the Ottoman system. Most grand viziers had short tenures in office, however.

Answer 10

Grand Vizier

Question 11

The equivalent of the Imperial Council or “Council of Ministers” in the Ottoman Empire

Answer 11

Divian