This is a fantastic idea; thanks for doing this. What interests me the most about history is how people lived their day-to-day lives. It’s an aspect that gets cast aside too often to discuss bigger things, such as politics, wars, culture, etc. I want to know what a day in the life of a regular citizen was like, what education was like, entertainment, cultural exchanges, science, etc. Good luck with the course!
Thank you very much for showing interest in the project Eric!
You’re right, the daily life is not much talked about in these types of lectures. I’ll try to weave it in my lectures as much as I can. Thank you again for your input!
Totally interested! Not just sure yet how much I'd pay--depends on model/struggle.
Topics of particular interest:
- Economic reach, structures of the empire, and how it approached administering trade, taxes in the regions it claimed.
- Industry and innovation, esp. re early gunpowder weapons.
- Administration and bureaucracy. I know a little about the Janissary and Eunuch corps, but I don't fully understand how the empire was administered, the role different groups played, etc.
- Central/defining tensions. In the US we talk about the tensions between state and federal government as a principle source of strength, but also a threat to national identity/cohesion. I'm curious about how peoples within the empire saw it, and the extent to which they identified with the empire, and–in a more abstract sense–what forces were drawing the empire together or tearing it apart.
- Sultanate of women
- Infrastructure and development within the empire. Public works building, esp. the role of the Valide sultan in driving this.
These are all fantastic points. I’ll keep them in mind and will surely go into most of them during my lectures, especially the topics on the administration, the “devshirme” system, and issues of identity and the role women played in politics.
Definitely interested, especially for my teens who have taken Late Ottoman history courses in the past. The deciding factor would be day/time, as well as, cost. Insha Allah.
Thanks for providing such a wonderful opportunity.
Thank you for your comment Sarah, I appreciate it. I hope you guys can join. I haven’t decided on the publication schedule, yet, but I’ll let you know as I go along.
I would be interested in doing the course, and also using it to help write about the Ottomans more in future. I would be keen to get an alternative narrative arc to the 'failed, decadent empire' story line, and to understand the interactions and intermingling of Ottoman society/culture with others.
Thank you very much for your interest Jeff, I appreciate it.
The course is definitely not going to be based on that narrative arc. In fact, I’ll address that narrative arc, how it came about, and why it’s not helpful in understanding Ottoman history.
I’ll hopefully send out a more detailed syllabus next week, so you can check that out as well. Hope you can join!
I would definitely be interested in this. We didn't get enough Ottoman history when I was taking history courses in High School and College. Most Middle East courses were focused on "Modern" history, so 1950's and beyond. But almost always there was an element of Ottoman history that worked it's way into the courses but without the necessary context. This, of course, leaves a major gap in our understanding of the world, the region, and so called "western" history.
You are very welcome, Doga! Thank you for sharing your much needed knowledge!
Do you happen to have a Facebook page with information about your upcoming course? It will be easier for me to share it with my followers. I want them to benefit from your course. Many thanks!
Thank you Allen. I’ll definitely go deep into how the Ottomans managed to first establish control and then rule over such a diverse set of territories and populations.
I am interested in what were the building blocks that made it into an Empire and what caused the blocks to crumble. With the rich history of the success only a hundred years ago, why hasn’t the Empire returned to a dominant place in the world again?
I'll definitely cover the institutional and administrative changes that the Ottomans implemented while transitioning from a small principality into an empire. I'll also look at how some of those same institutions came under stress during the 17th and 18th centuries and how the Empire tried to adapt.
Thank you David! In this course I'll cover mostly the period between 1300 and 1800, ending with the first reform efforts. However, if everything goes well, I want do delve deeper into the reform period and the end of the Empire in a separate course.
Thank you for your comment and your suggestions Andre. They are all great points to raise. I'll touch upon some of them in my lectures and may also cover them in the live Q&As.
It is a great idea!!! I am definitely interested. It would be a priviledge given the quality of your posts already. I'd be happy to participate if the time slot for Q&A fits in my other daily obligations. As for interests, apart from basic knowledge this truly yours is a blank page on the subject so anything Ottoman is welcome. I like to dig deep in my own research so lectures that are left open for more questions and more research are my favorite ones. Open to any format though.
This is a fantastic idea; thanks for doing this. What interests me the most about history is how people lived their day-to-day lives. It’s an aspect that gets cast aside too often to discuss bigger things, such as politics, wars, culture, etc. I want to know what a day in the life of a regular citizen was like, what education was like, entertainment, cultural exchanges, science, etc. Good luck with the course!
Thank you very much for showing interest in the project Eric!
You’re right, the daily life is not much talked about in these types of lectures. I’ll try to weave it in my lectures as much as I can. Thank you again for your input!
It could probably be an entire course by itself! I’m sure there’s material and resources galore on this. Anyway, have fun with the current course!
It definitely could! I’ll make a note of it. Thank you very much!
Meanwhile, you can check out Surayia Faroqhi’s Subjects of the Sultan: Culture and Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire if you’re interested in the topic.
Totally interested! Not just sure yet how much I'd pay--depends on model/struggle.
Topics of particular interest:
- Economic reach, structures of the empire, and how it approached administering trade, taxes in the regions it claimed.
- Industry and innovation, esp. re early gunpowder weapons.
- Administration and bureaucracy. I know a little about the Janissary and Eunuch corps, but I don't fully understand how the empire was administered, the role different groups played, etc.
- Central/defining tensions. In the US we talk about the tensions between state and federal government as a principle source of strength, but also a threat to national identity/cohesion. I'm curious about how peoples within the empire saw it, and the extent to which they identified with the empire, and–in a more abstract sense–what forces were drawing the empire together or tearing it apart.
- Sultanate of women
- Infrastructure and development within the empire. Public works building, esp. the role of the Valide sultan in driving this.
Thank you Jen, I really appreciate it!
These are all fantastic points. I’ll keep them in mind and will surely go into most of them during my lectures, especially the topics on the administration, the “devshirme” system, and issues of identity and the role women played in politics.
Asalaam alaikum,
Definitely interested, especially for my teens who have taken Late Ottoman history courses in the past. The deciding factor would be day/time, as well as, cost. Insha Allah.
Thanks for providing such a wonderful opportunity.
Thank you for your comment Sarah, I appreciate it. I hope you guys can join. I haven’t decided on the publication schedule, yet, but I’ll let you know as I go along.
I would be interested in doing the course, and also using it to help write about the Ottomans more in future. I would be keen to get an alternative narrative arc to the 'failed, decadent empire' story line, and to understand the interactions and intermingling of Ottoman society/culture with others.
Thank you very much for your interest Jeff, I appreciate it.
The course is definitely not going to be based on that narrative arc. In fact, I’ll address that narrative arc, how it came about, and why it’s not helpful in understanding Ottoman history.
I’ll hopefully send out a more detailed syllabus next week, so you can check that out as well. Hope you can join!
I would definitely be interested in this. We didn't get enough Ottoman history when I was taking history courses in High School and College. Most Middle East courses were focused on "Modern" history, so 1950's and beyond. But almost always there was an element of Ottoman history that worked it's way into the courses but without the necessary context. This, of course, leaves a major gap in our understanding of the world, the region, and so called "western" history.
Thank you for your interest David! Yes, I can easily imagine how Ottoman history was not really taught. I hope you can join us!
Absolutely! I wil share this with my 34K+ followers on Facebook too for their benefit.
Thank you Zubair, that’s much appreciated! I hope your followers find it interesting.
You are very welcome, Doga! Thank you for sharing your much needed knowledge!
Do you happen to have a Facebook page with information about your upcoming course? It will be easier for me to share it with my followers. I want them to benefit from your course. Many thanks!
Thank you for your kind words Zubair.
I unfortunately don’t have a Facebook page for my course. You can share my post about the course, though, if you’d like.
Hi Doga, no problem at all and sounds good. Many thanks!
A great idea, even the scholars would like to join! Looking forward!
Thank you very much Ayşe Hocam, I really appreciate it!
I’m in.
Excellent!
I'd be interested
Great! I’ll send out updates as I go along.
Sounds incredible. Would love to dive deeper into how the Ottomans maintained control over such a vast and diverse empire.
Thank you Allen. I’ll definitely go deep into how the Ottomans managed to first establish control and then rule over such a diverse set of territories and populations.
I am interested in what were the building blocks that made it into an Empire and what caused the blocks to crumble. With the rich history of the success only a hundred years ago, why hasn’t the Empire returned to a dominant place in the world again?
Hello Tim, thank you for your interest.
I'll definitely cover the institutional and administrative changes that the Ottomans implemented while transitioning from a small principality into an empire. I'll also look at how some of those same institutions came under stress during the 17th and 18th centuries and how the Empire tried to adapt.
Yes, definitely interested in this. I'm interested in a general overview of Ottoman history - from its rise to its fall.
That sounds great. I am still very interested.
Thank you David, I hope you’ll like it!
Thank you David! In this course I'll cover mostly the period between 1300 and 1800, ending with the first reform efforts. However, if everything goes well, I want do delve deeper into the reform period and the end of the Empire in a separate course.
I would be interested with an particular interest in the following questions:
How did the key resources, silver, gunpowder, soldiers, (and sometimes a navy) shape the Ottomans’ administrative apparatus?
How were Ottomans viewed the Muslim world and the remainder of Asia?
How did the Ottomans’ relationships with their oriental neighbours shape their relationships with the occident?
(Although, to be fair, this may be a little too specialized for an entry level class)
Thank you for your comment and your suggestions Andre. They are all great points to raise. I'll touch upon some of them in my lectures and may also cover them in the live Q&As.
Very much intrigued by how you structure the course. Looking forward to how this develops.
Thank you Muadh. I'll send you updates as I move further with the process.
It is a great idea!!! I am definitely interested. It would be a priviledge given the quality of your posts already. I'd be happy to participate if the time slot for Q&A fits in my other daily obligations. As for interests, apart from basic knowledge this truly yours is a blank page on the subject so anything Ottoman is welcome. I like to dig deep in my own research so lectures that are left open for more questions and more research are my favorite ones. Open to any format though.
Thanks a lot for your work!!!
Thank you Zoheyra, I appreciate it! I hope you like it when I launch it!
That terminal ı in 'Topkapı' is undotted.