History of the Ottoman Empire: 1300-1922

Class Description

This class is a survey course on the history of the Ottoman Empire. It will focus primarily on major political events so that students can learn how the Ottoman Empire was established; how its power, borders, demography, foreign relations, and ideology changed over time; and finally, how it ended. The course will further address some of the most common misconceptions about the Ottoman Empire—such as it being synonymous with Turkey or that it was a uniquely oppressive, stagnant, or declining empire for centuries before its dissolution. Rather, this course will show that it was a politically, culturally, religiously, ethnically, and linguistically diverse and vibrant empire that typically tolerated its loyal religious and ethnic minorities. However, this class will not romanticize Ottoman rule either. It will investigate oppressive elements of Ottoman rule, especially for religious and ethnic minorities, which culminated in the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides during WWI. Finally, by examining these aspects of Ottoman history, students will better understand the legacy of Ottoman rule in post-Ottoman lands such as in the Balkans, North Africa, West Asia, and Turkey.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

Kyle Clark has a PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University where he studied Ottoman history. Kyle is passionate about teaching Ottoman history and sharing his love of Turkey, especially Istanbul, one of the most beautiful and greatest cities on earth.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual 

Class Capacity: 30 

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged 

Materials List

Required

• Caroline Finkel, Osman’s Dream: The History of the Ottoman Empire. Perseus Books, 2005. ISBN: 978-0465023974

• Instructor-Distributed Materials

Recommended

Selected readings from these books will be distributed by the instructor. They are listed here for your reference.

• Roderic H. Davison, Turkey: A Short History. Prentice Hall, 1981. ISBN: 978-0906719039.
  • Available on the Internet Archive

• Donald Quataert, The Ottoman Empire 1700-1922. Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0521547826

First Reading

• Finkel, Osman’s Dream: “First Among Equals,” p. 31-53, “A Dynasty Divided,” p. 54-66, p. 71-76, “An Imperial Vision,” p. 82-86, p. 90-102.

• Davison, Turkey: “From Steppe to Empire,” p. 15-31.

A Brief Syllabus

1. The Origins of the Ottomans and the Conquest of Constantinople
2. The Peak of Ottoman Power, 1481-1566
3. Sedentary Sultans and the Rule of the Harem, 1566-1656
4. The Start of a Long Decline? 1656-1798
5. The Long Nineteenth Century and the Eastern Question, 1798-1878
6. The Bloody End of the Empire, 1878-1922

Cost and Registration

6 Sessions, $245 ($220.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($245), Community Supported ($225), and Sponsor ($265). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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