In a pioneering reinterpretation, the authors challenge the orientalist perception of the Islamic city. By considering the histories of three Ottoman cities in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, they depart from the piecemeal methods of previous studies to emphasize the importance of these cities and to highlight their essentially Ottoman character. While the essays provide an overall view, each can be approached separately. Their exploration of the sources and the agendas of those who have conditioned our understanding of these cities will make them essential reading for students.

Introduction: was there an Ottoman city? 1. Aleppo: the Ottoman Empire's caravan city Bruce Masters; 2. Izmir: from village to colonial port city Daniel Goffman; 3. Istanbul: from imperial to peripheralized capital Edhem Eldem; Conclusion: contexts and characteristics; Works consulted; Index.