The first volume deals with the political institutions of the Ottoman Empire, beginning with the life of Mohammed, excerpts from the Koran, and a discussion of the ethnic history of Turkey, before delving into the various rulers and regimes. The last two chapters of Volume I discuss the causes and results of the Russo-Turkish War and the finances/economic value of Turkey. The second volume is more concerned with Christianity: that is, nations under Turkey's influence, specifically Christian communities as either minorities within each state or as subject to the influence of Russia and/or the Ottoman Empire. Syria in particular gets a lot of attention, as does Armenia and Greece. A whole chapter is devoted to the history of the Orthodox Church in the region. A long discussion of the Order of the Assassins of Persia and Syria of the 11th and 12th centuries, and their secret sects.