INCREDIBLE HAREMS OF THE SULTANS, Istanbul. TOPKAPI PALACE and the DOLMABAHÇE PALACE

[@wbayne6161]

I love this channel its not just a travel vlog but a history channel as well.

[@nativetexan53]

You are correct. This is very educational as well as completely entertaining. And I just love Ollie on this show, too!

[@francesaggarwal22]

This brought back memories of my visits to the harems. Istanbul is my favourite city . Lovely place. I could happily live there . I've been in early spring when it snowed too. It can be so cold ! It's difficult to switch off our modern sensibilities , but I do think we need to when studying these historical places. I don't think we should judge the past by our modern standards . As the saying goes , "The past is a foreign country , they do things differently there ". We should of course learn from the past but recognise that there are many injustices in our modern world . I have an old book written by a woman who lived in the modern harem in Constantinople till it closed in the early twentieth century.She wrote her memoirs in later life. She tells the reader what life was actually like there. (It's no longer in print unfortunately .).I bought it 10 years ago . There used to be a few accounts like this around and they are good primary sources if you can find them. I'm very surprised you didn't mention Kemil Atatürk who made Turkey the modern nation it is today. He gave women the right to vote and hold political office by 1934 . This was before women in France, Italy and many other countries . He made polygamy illegal and the harems closed after this.

[@loveshine144]

You are amazing culturel people. Seriously ı am so honor that you tell the history of Atatürk 🇹🇷

[@justjane2070]

I visited Istanbul over 50 years ago. Can’t remember too much but two things stick with me: the friendliness of the people and the emeralds in the palace 😀💚💚

[@rablatour]

I absolutely love this channel - I learn something every single time AND I feel like you’re taking us to wonderful places I may never see.

[@lululand1653]

Extraordinary episode Oliver and Stephanie packed with so many facts and feelings. I was moved by your comments Stephanie regarding the modern palace being so close to our own time and what is even more stunning is that there are still actually millions of women, girls and boys being held as sexual slaves and trafficked all over the world. The world has changed and yet remains the same.

[@sandrajewell5288]

Wow, fantastic!!!

[@jomeyer13]

i know; i recently read about Epstein. island. and my thoughts went there as i viewed the vlog.

[@Behemoth713]

Thats westerners legends, like a city legend. It doesn't have historical truth in it. Harem was a school. Smart and beatiful smart girl slaves around the world being searched and bought by (harem scouts?) offical to this. They are being educated by palace school which is at the harem part of palace. This education was including nearly everything art to science etc. This womans and high officals of state like viziers or governors, marries with arrenged marriage by state. And this woman spy on their husband for the state. Also they want educate better officals for state and parents of individuals are important. With more qualified moms, childs are also became more qualified for state. But woman in this positions became very powerful in time. Mother of the sultans were also head of harem and with the power of harem; with social network of it, they are ruled the state multiple times. About Sultans most of them like Suleiman the magnificent has monogamist. But there are with multiple wives among them. But even them are married.

[@janeburkhalter]

​@@sandrajewell5288❤❤q ?

[@hatshepsut8329]

Thanks, Stephanie and Ollie for another awesome video! I have never seen another travel show on Turkey that covered this topic. It was fascinating and as you have said, sad as well. Not only sad for the women, but for the men as well. Can you imagine the nineteen brothers seeing their brothers go to their deaths at the command of their own brother? I wonder what the Sultan’s mother had to say about that one? If anyone would be interested in learning more about the world of the Sultans in more ancient times I recommend the book The Janissary Tree. It’s an ancient detective story with lots of cooking and drinking to boot. LOVE this channel, thanks again! 😎

[@luciaroslingshaw2112]

I LOVE the narration back and forth, and discussion style at the cafe. Thank you for going to the Near East! One of my favorite places.

[@figencebe9287]

I am Turkish origin, I visited Topkapi several times, but I never had the opportunity to see the harem, because it was under restoration for years (I could easily say all my life and I am not young anymore 😂) and closed to public … It is the first time I see all this … I never thought it would be so sumptuous … thank you Stephanie & Oliver … I just wished you said a word about Ataturk who made amazing reforms and gave all the rights to Turkish women long before most of the countries … especially now that Turkish women may lose most of those rights because of the Islamist current “sultan” …

[@dawnbutler2846]

Same for me three times. So now we know.

[@figencebe9287]

I think, while struggling with my phone, I erased someone's answer ... I hope you'll write again ... Sorry for this ...

[@KINGKHAN-gy2qu]

naked means freedom to u

[@SusiBlumentopf]

Unfortunately Atatürks reform reached only the urban societies, not the still backward agricultural areas (the same happened in Iran). So the backward traditions and beliefs came back again. You can lie to everyone, convince everyone, just by telling "it is the will of the heavens, God, Allah" and you deserve hell not following traditional rules.

[@breakfastattiffanys741]

It seems like a good deal to be honest 😂 free real estate, education, stunning clothing, luxurious beauty treatments.

[@peterwhite9261]

Now, this was definitely taking it up a notch. Aside from not being there in person, I totally feel I have been cultured and educated once again. Thank you. ❤

[@carolehanrahan]

I found this really fascinating and educational as well. I know very little about that part of the world and it's history so it really opened my eyes. The chandeliers were just jaw dropping too.

[@coralwebb4245]

I’ve have learned so much from this channel already and get so excited when each episode comes, thanks guys for your amazing channel 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🐨

[@beautyallaroundme724]

How interesting. I would love to go there. Especially after watching 60 4 hour long episodes of a Turkish miniseries about the Ottoman Empire--featuring the lives of the harem women heavily. So much beauty, yet so much fighting for survival & power. I would absolutely LOVE eating at that restaurant. I noticed they had one of my most favorite dishes (baba ghanoush). You two looked great in your costumes at the end. How fun.

[@GS-rw9og]

was awesome

[@aliciathom9633]

We live in Turkey on the Mediterranean coast and love Istanbul and the Topkapi palace. Appreciated all the extra history and comments.

[@janelord6461]

This vlog has to be the best one yet. The palaces were extraordinary and the Dohmabahce was beautiful. Those chandeliers were absolutely stunning. The way you describe everything and the information you relay to us is fascinating. I have never heard any of this before and when you think of the freedoms we have now its hard to believe that people lived this way and it was considered normal. I am definitely with you Stephanie and value my freedom over riches.

[@rosemariedeschenes7013]

The tiles and architecture are spectacular. I agree with Stephanie that I prize my personal freedom and would have found it difficult to live in that environment. The food looked delicious 😋 Thanks for taking us along 😍😘

[@antonellaarcadolan6004]

Love your travelling vlogs, Sthepanie and Ollie. You are two amazing individuals, the dialogue is fun, much needed in the world. Thank you ❤❤

[@debbiemilan2867]

What an amazing history lesson! I learned more today than I have in a very long time! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[@donnafink6262]

A fabulous episode! Istanbul is such a fabulous city and Topkapi so memorable. My husband and I visited the area many years ago and I was just blown away Thank you for the trip to the harems.

[@wellnone9367]

Again - a wonderful travel with you both. The beauty; the extraordinary beauty of the Sultan's surroundings, juxtaposed with the descriptions you so eloquently gave us of seemingly cruel, unbearable lives (to the modern mind), tests what we, largely, accept as rational in the human behaviour stakes. In other words, how can so much beauty be created by a culture that presses human lives into enforced shapes through fear and anxiety. But then, 'it was ever thus' - it is just this wonderful vlog has illustrated this so clearly. Each human has everything in them, dark and light, destructive and creative (as it says in the Harry Potter books), and we are what we choose to act out. Again, thank you for a beautiful, thought provoking, adventure. Looking forward to the next.

[@dianaelizabethbashford3797]

Thank you again Ollie and Steph for another wonder and interesting video. The Topkapi palace is so incredible. Seeing this video brought it all back to me and I will be going back one day. I can't wait for the next video. Take care. X

[@corinnegreen4765]

Absolutely brilliant xx you are both excellent at the narrative xx so interesting xx thank you both for whisking me away to another world xx🥰

[@carynkabat4208]

I agree with you Stephanie, I would not want to live a life like the people both female and male who lived in these harem palaces. This vlog was so informative and interesting. You outdo yourselves with each vlog. This is the best channel for travel and history and there are quite a few I like. Bravo!

[@whitehawk22]

Fabulous video, thank you. The two of you are excellent together in this series, and now I know much more about Istanbul and harems!

[@janehealy1956]

Thank you, Stephanie and Ollie, for another great video. I've been really enjoying them, you're both naturally funny and your adventures together are such fun to watch. 🙏😊 Looking forward to the next one x

[@nikbull1258]

I’ve been to Topkapi. It’s an amazing place. Visiting took a whole day!

[@lucygriffiths7490]

Completely fascinating… my favourite episode yet. Love!!!! 🙌

[@cariens3413]

Very Nice done! What a Lovely staff from the restaurant, with the acient food. Thanks for guiding us 😃❤️👍🏻🙏

[@Bill480513]

This was fascinating! Thank you for bringing us on your journeys!!

[@JLR1957]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you Stephanie and Ollie ❤

[@TravelsWithMyFriend]

Our pleasure!

[@jonimarchese7655]

Hi Stephanie and Ollie, wow, amazing. What a history lesson this was, amazing and frightening all at the same time. It truly is a sad tale, for women and for the men, it's almost a damned if you do and damned if you don't. Thank you so, so much for this video, and the lessons that came with it.

[@juliatownsend2324]

That was an amazing trip. So much beauty for us to enjoy. Chandeliers were off the scale. Thank you for another fascinating vlog. You both looked very regal in your outfits at the end. Xx

[@normalopez3476]

Thank you! I so much enjoyed this program & just watching you two having fun !❤

[@erenareynolds6692]

Love, love, love this channel… thank you Stephanie and Ollie for your love of travel to such fascinating places!

[@michaelt8727]

Discovered last night that though I’d subscribed to Travels With My Friend I hadn’t clicked on Notifications! Well, better late than never. Istanbul is a fascinating city but you and Ollie saw the main attractions in much more detail than I had. Such beauty and such an advanced civilization for its time at its peak. A joy to watch.

[@aidarosadohernandez9520]

I just adore watching this channel. Your vlogs are interesting, informative, full of joy and friendship! You both are the best vloggers ever! Best wishes from Mexico city!

[@TravelsWithMyFriend]

Thank you so much!!

[@gabbygermain6345]

Thanks guys. Thoroughly enjoy your journeys. I appreciate the detail you put into this channel, documentary style.. I love learning new things. Cheers.

[@murielanne57]

I visited the Topkapi Palace about ten years ago but have learnt more from your vlog than I was aware of on my trip to Istanbul.

[@hazel2546]

Hello Steph and Ollie! I highly recommend that you read a book called "The Concubine, The Princess and The Teacher by Douglas Scott Brookes" - It is an incredible novel that collects intimate biographies written by a Concubine during the final years of the Ottoman Empire from 1900 - 1925. You will be pleased to know that in the 20th century, the harem was vastly different than how you may think and it is by far one of the greatest things I have ever read!

[@TravelsWithMyFriend]

Thank you, I’ll order that now!

[@aliciathom9633]

I will try to order it! Thank you!

[@TravelsWithMyFriend]

I managed to find a second hand copy on EBay and it’s on its way (this is Steph, by the way 😊)

[@Nadia1111]

Absolutely fascinating! Thank you Stephanie and Ollie, what a wonderful vlog. Loved your intellectual discussion about the Harems as well.

[@amandapropes9047]

This is right up my alley! I ADORE your main channel... don't know why it took me this long to find this one! I love seeing these gorgeous places and hearing all the amazing history behind them. Not only that, but contextualizing the history and having a thoughtful discussion afterwards.... geez. Top notch, both of you. Please please please continue! ❤❤❤❤

[@davidlogan4329]

Thank you dear Stephanie and Oliver for the wonderful Ottoman palace adventures, I think Oliver won out with his Sultan's outfit!

[@theresarayner6681]

Fascinating, Turkey is a jewel. Must visit. ❤❤❤❤

[@sam1819]

I love Turkey, Istanbul is absolutely awesome. Letters from the harem show that they didn't feel oppressed, they were in a fiery competition with each other for Sultan's attention. They were free to get in and out as much as they wanted and to build homes around the city. They had great education and had a great life, according to them. There are entire diaries published, you are looking from a modern point of view. No women had such freedoms anywhere in the world.

[@alisra007]

I watched the turkiye series about harem and sultan it was great and gave an absolutely different point of view from the west.

[@notachateau]

Loved this episode so much. It’s not just the story it’s the way you guys deliver it. Very grateful viewer here! ♥️

[@susannejohnson6904]

That is the grandest chandelier I have ever seen. But you are right. There is such a sense of sadness and lack of freedom that we can't even comprehend in our time.

[@debtheguest3109]

How fascinating this was! I so appreciate you both sharing your knowledge of the places you visit.

[@rosewright4605]

It must be 30 years since I visited. You took me back in time.

[@vautierchristophe]

Congratulations for this superb video. I am not surprised at all by the very cold weather in Turkey. In this area of the world winters are very cold and summers are super hot. I hope you had been visited the Ararat mount where Nos landed. This mount is in North East of Turkey. Close to the Armenian border. The Ottoman artists had an great talent to create so many marvelous things.

[@susanwebb2340]

Once again another superb presentation of a different custom and culture❤

[@d14551]

Thanks to you both for being so thoughtful about what the harem system meant for the women who lived in them, both those who actually had some power and many others who didn't.

[@d14551]

And all those castrated young boys - very cruel indeed.

[@juliannemaisey5047]

WOW! I can’t wait for each new travel experience! Thank you 🙏 I’ll never travel to these wonderful places myself, so travelling with you is fantastic!❤️🧳

[@user-yn4rh3ib8m]

Enjoyed the show and have loved them all. I don’t think there are many travel shows that have shown so much. Congratulations!!

[@mariamaru9972]

Steph and Ollie, thank you for having this genial idea of making these vlogs.

[@lizstevenson7801]

That was wonderful, thank you both. So interesting learning the real history of different Countries and Cultures. 💕🇦🇺

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Thank you for this, and for bringing back wonderful memories of Istanbul in the early 70s

[@josephinedavidson5968]

Stephanie and Oliver, together you are natural Orators of fantastic culture and history, Congratulations x Josie

[@emilytaylor6970]

OMG!!!!! I am enjoying these videos sooo much..... Thank you, thank you Ollie and Steph for taking the time to do these travel videos. Best documentary ever 🤗🤗🥰😍

[@hasret2096]

This was a wonderful episode. Though I've been to Topkapi seeing this through your eyes was like visiting it for the first time. Thanks so much for taking us along.

[@katehobbs2008]

I think it’s important to see the harem from the perspective of that time. They were restricted to certain areas, yes. However if not taken into the harem, they may have lived in dreadful poverty and hardship; women were not free even outside but were restrained by religious and social rules, they would have had to do endless hard work with no mod cons, perhaps with rampant diseases. Most critically, their expectations of life regarding freedom etc were utterly different. You can not judge their experience through 21st century eyes.

[@reefmohammed3553]

Like the palace of all medieval empire and kingdom weither western, eastern or chinese

[@user-yh1qd7lj5f]

@@reefmohammed3553 exactly, in west every king had 1000s of women for $ex but had blood related one wife to produce next monarchy, but west seem to target only ottoman for "some" reasons

[@terintiaflavius3349]

They were mostly taken by slave raiders.

[@melindaduncan3073]

What a beautiful place to visit! I just love these videos. You give up an opportunity to see parts of the world that we may not have ever seen or get a chance to visit. I do appreciate all of your videos.

[@shannonlavertue46]

There are so many things that I would love to say- but most importantly, It is quite beautiful to watch two best friends, research and enjoy history. Your story telling with factual intent is amazing. I look forward to each adventure.

[@lilkirsche]

Absolutely incredible episode!!! Actually my favorite of all of them. 😍😍👍🏻👍🏻 This channel is so amazing ❤️

[@marydesrosiers9271]

I click on this to watch not realizing it was Stephanie’s channel. It was the topic that interested me.

[@katierobertsart5658]

What a great episode! Thank you for your insights Stephanie and Ollie. Xxx

[@renedugarte3898]

Very interesting thank you for showing us this fantastic video well done 👍

[@GreatCityAttractions]

One of the majestic and interesting places in Istanbul no doubt. - alovely vidoe of it too!

[@sercansavci7739]

Guys, although the harem is thought of as a pleasure palace in most Western perspectives, it is actually a bride-raising school for the Ottoman aristocracy, and the sultan does not have sex with all the women in the harem. Many sultans such as the Suleiman magnificent were monogamous. They may have had children from several women, but these relationships are not simultaneous. The purpose of the harem was not to create sex slaves for the sultan. There was no feudal system in the Ottoman hierarchy, the only noble Turkish family that can take part in politics was the Ottoman dynasty. Viziers, ministers, commanders and admirals were taken from all over the world from childhood, sometimes voluntarily or by slavery, then those children were educated for special governmental positions. Thus, no matter how wealthy and militarily powerful the statesmen were over time, they could not be an alternative to the Ottoman throne, since they did not have legitimacy. Here, the harem was a school that trains girls for the marriage of these people with high status within the state. However, those in the harem also enter the harem by enslavement, and both viziers(ministers) and women in the harem cannot claim the throne, as they were slaves before their status. No matter how unsuccessful and stupid the sultan is, as long as he lives, he does not risk losing his throne thanks to this strategy, so the Ottoman dynasty is the longest-reigning family in history. In the harem, girls took lessons in music, foreign languages, good writing, literature, and etiquette and formed an artificial aristocracy for the courtiers. They lived as gentle people who were not really noble, but as well-educated as nobles, but could not acquire political and military authority. The number of women in the harem, the most crowded period of which was the period of Sultan Ahmet, was around 700. Nevertheless, sultan Ahmet had relations with only two women; Hatice Sultan (3 years) and Kösem Sultan (for the rest of his life). Summly, the harem was not an orgy club, but a school for the aristocracy.

[@Happy7777.]

yes!!! but they like to think the other way around!

[@GS-rw9og]

Well stated, finally an honorable individual who thinks with their brain, not ignorantly- below the belt buckle!!!

[@gloriaveronicagonzalezgarz1271]

Great video, I enjoyed it sooo much, very interesting

[@tamasinharris791]

You two are just brilliant together!

[@chrissih4046]

Fascinating! Another world….. thank you, Stephanie & Oliver. Im loving my armchair travel snd look forward to visiting all of these amaaazing places in a few years 🙏🏽

[@kayfindlay23]

I am thoroughly enjoying your adventures and the different points of interest, bucket list is growing day by day 😊❤

[@Golding247]

Lovely film, I’ve been to both palaces, love them both and love the Islamic architecture and Turkish ceramics

[@nanellevantonder3767]

I loved this vlog tremendously. I resently watched the series, "Magnificent Century". All about Suleiman and the Topkapi palace. ❤

[@danneeley7248]

Marvelous, informative, delightful.. thanks for this travel and historical video.

[@charmainejfritz]

omg what an interesting and educational episode. unbelievable how other cultures lived and how others had to live behind closed doors. wow. no wonder the ottoman empire ended. but the new age palace and harem so very different, the harem being more like an institution than a palace i understand how stephanie feels about having freedom or political power, nothing it more important to me than my independence also especially having to work so hard to get it and maintain it in our own era. just loved learning all about this era. i remember seeing the movie "topkapi" in the 60's or 70,s and thinking how magnificent the palace was and how wonderful it must be to live there - uh not really!! unless you were the sultan and had that magnificent bathroom!

[@Alaskalad]

That was an awesome insight into the goings on in the Harem back in the day.

[@lorrainel2314]

That was brilliant. I’ve not been to Istanbul but always wanted to go. Now it will be an obsession 🥰 Both of you have excellent presentation skills, thank you 💛💜

[@lamismissa5620]

A video with a meaning thank you so much ❤

[@Sherryskogstad]

That was so much fun and also thought provoking. Thank you

[@rosemiller2990]

Thank you so much for this episode. I’ve learned so much and I’m thrilled to have done so. It was absolutely fascinating. So interesting to have such contrasting feelings while watching this. In awe of all of that beauty, and at the same time being so sad for the women of the era.

[@isabellejarvis7805]

Loved it !

[@pamelagimson1822]

What a fantastic and beautiful episode, truly interesting and educational, thank you .❤

[@corinnealford2952]

Love this channel, very documentary like and both of you are brilliant at telling the story!

[@barbiec4312]

Beautiful. Fascinating. Thank you.

[@elainemcgran8828]

Brilliant. I recently watched a documentary about the Harem and the Palace, it was great seeing everything

[@jannett87]

Great episode! Absolutely love this channel👍👍👍👍

[@lornanorris1363]

I really learned alot from this video, what a beautiful and fascinating place.

[@lindagage7315]

That was so interesting! Thankyou, well done!

[@HeatherMcKeeverHaffey-mm2fy]

There is NOTHING romantic about a society which enslaves people; and interesting design or architecture does not redeem the situation. I am so very grateful for your new vlog; knew very little of 19th century Turkey and am repulsed. Keep the visually exquisite education coming. I believe. Your heart is in the right place.

[@michelem4566]

SO interesting! Thank you Oliver & Stephanie for a superb presentation :)

[@lavonnemountain6133]

Vlog couldn't be more fascinating, I have been also and thanks for taking me back. So enjoyed all the real facts! I am rather happy I was not there in the snow, we have enough in Minnesnowta I mean Minnesota. Turkey is uniquely beautiful. You looked so pretty as Demure and the Sultan.

[@lwest5686]

Well done Stephanie and Oliver! A Turkish series called Magnificent Century was filmed in the palace and gave a fairly accurate account of the Ottoman Sulieman and his harem. Netflix used to carry it but no longer - not in Canada anyway. Superb acting and wardrobe.

[@faeryvixenetc]

Excellent series.

[@carolinegooder7091]

It is on KZbin, along with the second series.

[@FaeryVixen]

@@carolinegooder7091 yup! watched most of it already, haven't started the second series yet ... I was so sad when I rand out of English subtitled episodes! 💗🦊

[@suejoemontebello1239]

Absolutely loved this vlog,❤ great work guys

[@lindawentink2725]

Looove Istanbul. Brilliant, interesting video. Thank you🥰

[@andreacatzel8259]

Superb! Learned so much more from you than I did when I visited! Your delivery of the information is always spot on….succinct and entertaining. Beautiful filming and well chosen music! Was just panicked for you being somewhat underdressed in that snowy temperature. That food looked spectacular! Can’t wait for your next adventure! Love to you both. ❤

[@alexmoses2177]

as usual, a feast of information exploding westerner thoughts and concepts of life in a harem (not that I had lodgings there!). S&O, you have nailed it with this channel! CONGRATS & THANKS to Both. Next visit to that restaurant too! Fantastic! ALEX XX

[@mikewatson5281]

Let’s all just take a moment and reflect on all the amazing contributions the Muslim religion has made to civilization as a whole

[@sueheiney8566]

Literally on the backs of slaves.

[@ruthfrench]

Thank you both for another wonderful distraction.

[@sjfulton10]

Well done! Very informative and interesting.

[@jeanmkaufmann]

The art and architecture in Istanbul is incredible. Turkey is definitely on my Bucket List. 🙂🇨🇦

[@Margaux247]

Thank you! This was marvelous!❤