Lecture 1: The Ottoman Empire in World History: What the Archives Can Tell Us

Venue: Shinyang Humanities Hall (Bldg. #4), Room 309

Date: 4:30 pm. Oct. 27 (Mon), 2014

Language: English

Lecture 2: Social Hierarchy, Charity and above All Money: A Historian's Reflections on the Great Circumcision Festival of 1720

Venue: Shinyang Humanities Hall (Bldg. #4), Room 302

Date: 4:30 pm. Oct. 28 (Tue), 2014

Language: English (with Korean translation)

Professor Suraiya Faroqhi
She is undoubtedly the most important and renowned historian in the field of Ottoman history. Her contribution to Ottoman social and economic history is truly outstanding, and she was awarded for her lifetime achievement at the 4th meeting of the World Congress of Middle Eastern Studies, held in Ankara August, 2014.

Her first lecture is on “The Ottoman Empire in World History: What the Archives Can Tell Us” It covers Ottoman archives.” (Rm 309, Shinyang [Humanities], 4:30 PM 10/27). It will cover how historians of various nationalities have used Ottoman collections in archives in and outside of Turkey, and how indeed the archival materials evidence the vast connections Ottomans found themselves in.

Her second lecture is entitled “Social Hierarchy, Charity, and above All Money: A Historian’s Reflections on the Great Circumcision Festival of 1720.” The public celebration of the circumcision of princes in 1720 involved processions of Istanbul guilds and military units, extravagant performances, and exchanges of gifts. She will analyze the social and political hierarchies acted out on this occasion, legitimization of the sultan through his charity, and issues regarding how to meet the cost of such an enormous festival.