In its own time, knowledge of this form of literary Turkish was largely limited to the educated classes.
The Ottoman Divan poetry tradition embraced the influence of the Persian and, to a lesser extent, Arabic literatures.
However, the decision to adopt these poetic forms wholesale led to two important further consequences:[1] Out of this confluence of choices, the Ottoman Turkish language—which was always highly distinct from standard Turkish—was effectively born.
Beginning with the Tanzimat reform period (1839–1876) of Ottoman history and continuing until the dissolution of the empire in the early 20th century, the Divan poetic tradition steadily dwindled, and more and more influence from both Turkish folk literature and European literature began to make itself felt.
Most famous poets are Ahmed Paşa, Necati, Bâkî, Nedîm, most importantly Nef'i.