This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century by examining the esteemed leader Suleiman the Magnificent. By investigating the compelling question “How ‘magnificent’ was Suleiman?” students are asked to evaluate the positive and negative impacts Suleiman had on the region. The formative performance tasks are designed to build on knowledge and skills through the course of the inquiry and should help students recognize the often simplistic nature of historical labels in understanding complex figures. Students ultimately create an argument suppo