How accurate is the series about Suleyman the Magnificent?

Question

I am asking in the Turkey section, although this is not about travel, because I hope to get info from Turkish users. i am referring to the series about Suleyman, called "muhtesi yuzyil" or something like that, sorry if it is totally wrong, i don't know Turkish.
What I'd like to know is what Turkish viewers think about the series and if it is accurate in reproducing the period of the 16th century, in terms of:
a. costumes (did the dresses of women look like that, so open in the chest for example?)
b. manners (are these the manners of the 16th century or more likely to represent the manners of 19th century ottoman empire?)
c. architecture
d. history

Thanks!

amada · Accepted Answer

Not really.
It is based on facts but a lot of it is just imagination. 
The Emperor Suleyman ruled the country for  46 years, and stayed in his palace only 1.5 years in that time. In the series he doesn't get out of the Harem. That's impossible.
Hurrem has her admirers or haters. Noone really knows what she was like. That's the imagination of the producers.
Harem was a place with very strict rules. People weren't able to go in and out as shown in the series.Not men ( never), not women, not even the Sultan himself could go in and out without following certain rules.  
Meral Okay who was writing the scenario died, I believe she had done extensive research before writing whatever she wrote,( She was someone I had respect for )  I'm not sure about how much she was able to delegate to others.

Other than that, look  at what I found for you.

Read all answers, pro and con.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120125205341AAwUNZK

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2012/02/muhtesem-yuzyil-traditional-women-roles-in-the-age-of-emancipation/

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/designer-promotes-ottoman-motifs-to-the-world.aspx?pageID=238&nID=19607&NewsCatID=376

http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/muhtesem-yuzyil-or-magnificent-century/

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action;jsessionid=1AD01E461A25BFC55B2470041260FCA8?newsId=231843

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/20/turkish-drama-magnificent-century-divides

bradish · Answer

Suleiman The Magnificent Series

tramp · Answer

Some stuff is accurate and some not :)

For the costumes, here is a Turkish article and you can translate it
http://pazarvatan.gazetevatan.com/haberdetay.asp?hkat=1&hid=17904&yaz=G%FCncel

It basically says that the dress of women were not saved so they have no proof but from the paintings yes they were showing some cleavage

For architecture, I am sure it is better than you see on that show, I have been to Topkapı Palace many times, it is charming

For History, overall the stuff they show is true, the main characters were some real people in history

But generally the show is mostly about the stuff we dont-cant know so it is all about their imagination

Alaman · Answer

Don't also forget that during the Ottoman period, the aristocratic Ottomans spoke Turkish with Persian and Arabic influences. They can't make the actors speak in Ottoman Turkish because it wouldn't be understandable to the present day Turks. It's called "Osmanlıca".

Anonymous · Answer

amada is right,,

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How accurate is the series about Suleyman the Magnificent?

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