Over 1,000 researchers from around the world apply for permission each year to use the archived material, much of which is poorly stored in mice-infested warehouses. The archives hold over 150 million documents belonging to the Ottoman era, ranging from military reports to economic and political correspondence. The earliest date back to 1300. At its height in the 17th Century, the Ottoman Empire commanded much of the Balkans, Middle East and North Africa, venturing as far into Europe as the walls of Vienna. The empire collapsed at the end of World War One after a lengthy decline.
Turkey is now a republic.
Aktas said measures would also be taken to help the curious to get to grips with the Ottoman language, a now-defunct mixture of Arabic, Persian and Turkish. Christian Armenia says over 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by Turks in 1915 by order of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey says the figure is grossly exaggerated.