The Tulip Period, or Tulip Era, is a period in Ottoman history from the Treaty of Passarowitz on 21 July 1718 to the Patrona Halil Revolt on 28 September 1730. This was a relatively peaceful period, during which the Ottoman Empire began to orient itself outwards.
The Fountain of Ahmed III is an iconic example of Tulip period architecture
Drawing of a tulip by Abdulcelil Levni (1720)
Tulip Period architecture
Tulip Period architecture was a stage in Ottoman architecture in the early 18th century. New types of decoration were introduced into the existing classical style of Ottoman architecture and new types of buildings, such as stand-alone fountains and libraries, became important landmarks. The style is most closely associated with the Tulip Period (1718-1730), a period of peace during the reign of Ahmed III when architectural patronage increased in Istanbul after a relative lull in the late 17th century. However, the new style was also present at the beginning of Ahmed III's reign and continued to be evident after him in the 1730s. The introduction of European influences in Ottoman culture and architecture eventually led to the creation of the Ottoman Baroque style in the 1740s.
The Fountain of Ahmed III in Istanbul, one of the most iconic monuments of the Tulip Period
Köprülü Library, Istanbul (1678)
Ahmed III Library in Topkapı Palace, Istanbul (1719)
Ahmed III Library interior