An examination of why Jews promote a positive image of Ottomans and Turks while denying the Armenian genocide and the existence of antisemitism in Turkey. Based on historical narrative, the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 were embraced by the Ottoman Empire and then, later, protected from the Nazis during WWII. If we believe that Turks and Jews have lived in harmony for so long, then how can we believe that the Turks could have committed genocide against the Armenians? Marc David Baer confronts these convictions and circumstances to reflect on what moral responsibility the descendants of the victims of one genocide have to the descendants of victims of another. Baer delves into the history of Muslim-Jewish relations in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey to find the origin of these myths. He aims to foster reconciliation between Jews, Muslims, and Christians, not only to face inconvenient historical facts but to confront, accept, and deal with them. By looking at the complexities of interreligious relations, Holocaust denial, genocide and ethnic cleansing, and confronting some long-standing historical stereotypes, Baer aims to tell a new history that goes against Turkish antisemitism and admits to the Armenian genocide. “[Baer] demonstrates not only his erudition and knowledge of the sources but his courage on confronting a major myth of Ottoman history and current Turkish politics: the tolerance and defense of Jews by the Ottoman and Turkish state.” —Ronald Grigor Suny, editor of A Question of Genocide “A very significant study regarding the origins of violence and its denial in Turkey through the empirical study of not only antisemitism, but also its connection to genocide denial.” —Fatma Müge Göçek, author of The Transformation of Turkey

Reprint of the original, first published in 1877.

On the basis of original, empirically rich, and theoretically sound social research, the chapters in this volume reveal and analyze the complex relations between the secular government of Turkey and the religious persons and society within the Turkish state.

The first volume deals with the political institutions of the Ottoman Empire, beginning with the life of Mohammed, excerpts from the Koran, and a discussion of the ethnic history of Turkey, before delving into the various rulers and regimes. The last two chapters of Volume I discuss the causes and results of the Russo-Turkish War and the finances/economic value of Turkey. The second volume is more concerned with Christianity: that is, nations under Turkey's influence, specifically Christian communities as either minorities within each state or as subject to the influence of Russia and/or the Ottoman Empire. Syria in particular gets a lot of attention, as does Armenia and Greece. A whole chapter is devoted to the history of the Orthodox Church in the region. A long discussion of the Order of the Assassins of Persia and Syria of the 11th and 12th centuries, and their secret sects.