JWST 1561

Introduction to the Ottoman Empire

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

This course will introduce students to the study of the Ottoman Empire from its inception in the 12th century until the modernization reforms of the 19th century. Topics will include an introduction to the main timeline of the geographical expansion of the Empire, the consolidation of the imperial power during the "Golden Age" of Süleyman the Magnificent and finally the transformation in the imperial system of rule from the 17th to the 19th century. Special emphasis will be placed on the Ottoman diverse social make up and the evolution of the imperial and provincial governments' relationships with the various socio-cultural groups, economic systems, legal practices, and inter-communal relations within the empire's urban centers.  This demanding course should provide the student with the necessary background knowledge to pursuing further studies in the history of the Modern Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

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