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Tulip Period

Ottoman history
Also known as: Tulip Age, Tulip Time

Quick Summary

The Tulip Period, from 1717 to 1730, was a time in Ottoman history when there was a brief embrace of Western European culture and lifestyle. During this era, under Grand Vizier İbrahim Paşa and Sultan Ahmed III, Ottoman elites began adopting European fashion and imitating the courtly pleasures of places like Versailles. Lavish residences were built, and social gatherings became more common. The period is named after the growing obsession with tulips, which became a symbol of this Westernization. For the first time, Turkish-language books were printed in the empire, introducing new ideas and knowledge. Despite these changes, the broader impact was limited, with only a few individuals experiencing these shifts, and their efforts to disseminate new knowledge had little overall effect on Ottoman society.12

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