This book illuminates the founding of the Ottoman Empire by drawing on Turkish, Greek, Arabic, and Latin sources, including coins, buildings, and topographic evidence. It describes the rugged homeland of the founder of the Ottomans, particularly his achievement in the context of the once mighty Byzantine Empire and its terminal stages. It also charts the progress of Osman's son Orhan, until the fateful moment in 1354 when his forces crossed into Europe and began their spectacular conquests. The chapter reviews the obscure origins of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the Near East, dominated the Mediterranean, and terrorized Europe for centuries. It references scholarly monographs and editions on the history, literature, thought, and material culture of the Byzantine world.