The Ottoman Empire, a vast empire centered in Istanbul, rose to prominence through its robust political system organized around the Sultan, Grand Vizier, and Divan, and its formidable military force, the Janissaries. The empire’s territories encompassed Anatolia, the Balkans, Arab provinces, and North Africa, while its cultural influence, manifested in Islamic architecture, art, literature, and Sufism, left an indelible mark on history.