This course provides an overview of the history of the Ottoman Empire, the longest lasting Muslim superpower and a major player in world history, from its inception in 1299 until its dissolution after World War I. Among current members of the United Nations, close to 40 member states were, for periods ranging from 50 to 600 years, integral parts of the Ottoman state. Present-day conflicts in political hot-spots, such as the Middle East, Bosnia, Kosovo, Cyprus and the Caucasus can only be understood through exploring their origin in the Ottoman past. At the same time in many cases the Ottoman Empire was an example of tolerance and accommodation of various ethnic and religious groups.