Module HIST2671: THE OTTOMAN STATE 1400-1700

Department: History

HIST2671: THE OTTOMAN STATE 1400-1700

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To understand how a pre-modern empire was maintained and governed successfully over three centuries, with particular attention to consensus, justice, and images of state.
• To provide a contrasting study to the western-dominated focus of other Level 2 models to encourage students' appreciation of a broader historical perspective.

Content

• The study of Ottoman history used to be dominated by largely negative stereotypes - the military machine and its 'unnatural' levies of Christian children, degenerate sultans and their women, the golden age of Suleyman the Magnificent followed by the state's inevitable decline.
• Ottoman historians themselves, Republican Turks and Christian European writers each had an interpretative axe to grind.
• However, in the last 50 years, there has been an explosion of scholarly research in virtually all fields of Ottoman history, bringing life, colour and new perspectives.
• This module shows how, with an efficient, pragmatic state proud of its cultural diversity, the Ottomans were neither stereotypes nor failures.
• Themes covered include sultanic authority, images and consensus.
• the relationship between religion(s) and politics, and Ottoman notions of 'reform'.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students should: Understand the general principles on which the Ottoman state was based and how it functioned in its own terms, rather than as seen through western Christian eyes.
• Understand how such terms as 'golden age' and 'decline' have influenced interpretations of Ottoman history.
• Understand controversial or 'difficult' issues in early modern Ottoman history.

• Subject specific skills for this module can be viewed at:
• http://www.dur.ac.uk/History/ugrads/ModuleProformaMap/

• Key skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/History/ugrads/ModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures set out the principal stages of development and interpretative themes of Ottoman history to 1700.
• Particular attention is given to the major historiographical debates of the past 50 years, though which many premises previously dominating the study of Ottoman history have been extensively revised.
• Seminars allow students to look in greater depth at crucial themes such as the role of the sultan and the women of the dynasty, the Ottoman 'military machine', Ottoman finance, the relative significance in Ottoman policy of the Arab provinces, Hungary and the Iranian border, the development of Ottoman bureaucracy, etc.
• Each student will give two seminar presentations during the course, which are part of the formative assessment, written seminar papers being returned with comments and an assessment grade.
• One summative essay in each term builds upon seminar work and discussion to present reasoned argument at length on the chosen topic.
• Essay questions in the final examination test the student's understanding of the nature of the Ottoman state generally and their appreciation of historical debate.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

One or more short assignments submitted in writing or delivered orally and discussed either 1:1 or in a group context.