M.A. Theses

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Images of time : analysis of stele of Vultures and Victory stele of Naram-Sin
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2022., 2022) Koçer, Azra Ruveyde.; Özyar, Aslı.
Commemorative monuments were created in Mesopotamia for the first time. They were carved in relief and inscribed withs texts and recorded historical events with name of the ruler. This thesis investigates the connections between the image and text on the Stele of Vultures from the Early Dynastic Period and the Victory Stele of Naram-Sin from the Akkadian Period to understand the use of the text to complement and strengthen the layers of meaning through its relation to the image. This study aims to explore the multiple layers of meaning that are present on the plane of composition of the steles through an understanding of polysemic nature of the cuneiform script and its role in creating Deleuzian time-images on the world of imagery on the steles. Because cuneiform scripts are not meant for the spoken language but rather reflects a visual mode of expression, its relation to the image necessitates a visual analysis that also accounts for the materiality of writing. For this reason, Deleuzian analysis of the images concerning relations of images to the time will be used for uncovering the layers of meaning that concerns the epistemological and ontological aspects of the writing. Through this understanding, this thesis will argue the change in the royal ideology and how its representation through the monuments of war was changed through time. This analysis will present the close relationship of the political ideals and ontological placement of the ruler is affected by the visual representation.
Ahmet Rıfat Efendi's Mirâtü’l-Mekâsid : the possibility of a Sunni Bektaşiyye in the nineteenth century
(Thesis (M.A.) - Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2022., 2022) Kiper, Metin.; Terzioğlu, Derin.
This thesis focuses on the work Mir’âtü'l-Mekâsid fî Def'i'l Mefâsid, which was written by a Bektaşi intellectual, Ahmet Rıfat Efendi in 1875. Although the Bektaşi order left its mark on the Ottoman Empire and had a long-standing association with the Janissary corps, it was also known for its heterodox and non-Sunni orientation. Yet, in Mir’âtü'l-Mekâsid, the author describes a Sunni Bektaşiyye. In this work, the Bektaşi order is represented as a Sufi order that was no different from the other Sunni Sufi orders. In particular, the author's efforts to bring together the Halidi branch of the Nakşibendi order and the Bektaşi order stand out. Why did Ahmet Rıfat Efendi represent Bektaşis in this way? This thesis argues that the answer to this question lies in the new challenges faced by Bektaşis in the nineteenth century. In 1826, the Bektaşi order was abolished along with the Janissary corps and many Bektaşi lodges were destroyed or given over to Nakşibendi sheikhs. Despite these setbacks, however, the Bektaşi order could survive and gradually recuperated. Yet, the attacks on the Bektaşis did not cease. In 1875, Harputlu Ishak Hoca penned a polemical work against the order. This thesis argues that Ahmet Rıfat Efendi penned his work in response to this and similar attacks and aimed to create. The necessary conditions and concessions for the Bektaşi order continue to exist in the late 19th -century Ottoman world.
Ottoman official discourse and its reflections during the Crimean War
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Coşkuner, Fatma Özyiğit.; Deringil, Selim,
From a number of aspects the Crimean War was a turning point for the Ottoman Empire. During this war the greatest powers in Europe went into action with the Ottomans and with the Paris Peace Treaty at the end of the war the Ottoman Empire was included in the Concert Of Europe. This situation had effects on the creation of the Ottoman official statements as well as on the propaganda that was carried out during the war. Relying on European support, the Ottoman Empire tried to bring Russia’s aggressive attitude to the fore while demonstrating its own peaceful attitude to the Europeans. This situation is closely connected to the concept of international law in the 19th century. The Ottoman Empire, which was trying to justify itself according to international law, used every opportunity to bring to the fore Russia’s unjustified attacks on her soil. The Crimean War can be seen as a battle in which, for the Russians, the peak of Orthodoxy was reached. The Russians used Orthodoxy both in official statements and in popular culture, and this war was perceived as a victory of Orthodoxy over Islam. The Ottomans, although an Islamic empire, were very careful in the way they used the Islamic components, due to the fact that their allies and an important section of their own citizens were non-Muslim. While this situation had an effect on Ottoman official statements, it also opened the way to a variety of relationships between the state and the people. Thus, slowly the first structures of a popular culture in the Ottomans had begun to form.
Spor Alemi (1919-1929): A Turkish sports magazine in the transition period from The Ottoman Empire to The Turkish Republic
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Eroğul, Ali.; Karakışla, Yavuz Selim,
In this thesis, stages of development of sports, especially football in the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the early years of the Turkish Republic in the framework of the Spor Alemi magazine (1919-1929). For this purpose, all available issues of the magazine have been scanned, examnined and indexed. The stance of the magazine concerning current sports discussions has been looked into; its approach to various sports such as boxing, rowing and billiards has been examined. Football has been the focus of the thesis while also looking at how the official football policies were applied. In that context, news items and articles published in the magazine have been studied; examples of football news from Istanbul, the West and Anatolia have been cited. Therefore, this study aims not only to shed a light on Spor Alemi (1919-1929), but also on the history of Turkish football itself.|Keywords: Sport Periodicals in Ottoman, Football, the Ottoman Empire, Sports, Spor Alemi.
Instrumentalization of music in the late Ottoman Empire: The case of the Teutonia
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Akyoldaş, Ayşe Seren.; Karakışla, Yavuz Selim,
This thesis intends to perceive music as a medium being influenced by the political agenda of its epoch. In order to observe the use of music for political goals in the late Ottoman Empire, in the light of the archival materials, memoirs, newspapers, journals, and travel accounts, this thesis focuses on the evolution of the Western Classical Music in the Ottoman Empire. Having developed within the palace and then moved outwards through “catching up” with the Western ideals, the use of Western Classical Music will show that music had been perceived as an important part of the Ottoman Westernization process. In the second part of the thesis, the cultural performances, especially the musical activities, which were organized by the German Club Teutoina will be examined, where the political instrumentalization of music is again visible. Though economic imperialism in the Ottoman Empire has been dealt with by many economic historians, however, German cultural imperialism in the Ottoman Empire is underresearched. In order to fulfill this gap and challenge the conventional historiography regarding the position of the Ottoman Empire in terms of the German cultural imperialism, through the case of the German club in Ġstanbul, called the Teutonia, which was founded in 1847, German cultural imperialism in the Ottoman Empire will be discussed in details. Reading between the lines, this case study will prove how music had been instrumentalized for the political, cultural and social agendas of not only Germany, but also of the Ottoman Empire.|Keywords: instrumentalization of music, Western Classical Music in the Ottoman Empire, German cultural imperialism, the Teutonia.
The urban development of Istanbul in the nineteenth century: The role of expropriations
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) İbidan, Zuhal.; Terzibaşoğlu, Yücel.
This thesis examines the expropriation activities which were the most important tools for the government in the process of reconstruction implemented in Istanbul in the nineteenth century. The information in this thesis is generally based on the Ottoman archival records. In addition to this, some newspapers like Takvîm-i Vakayi’, Basîret and Tasvîr–i Efkâr and secondary sources were used. In the thesis, questions such as, what the purpose of this reconstruction plan and expropriations was, in which places of the capital city the plans were applied, by whom and how these plans were applied have been answered. Also addressed were issues such as what the government was aiming at by these expropriations and reconstruction plans, what was gained and how the public reacted towards these novelties. This thesis argues that the urban development which is at the intersection of centralization and modernization, and the concept of modern expropriation was a consequence of the change in the perspective and the understanding of the Ottoman government. Additionally, in the thesis, while the concept of modern expropriation is being evaluated in relation to the transformation in the governmental and legal mentality, the economic and social aspects of the expropriations are also emphasized. Other reconstruction processes occurring in other cities in the Ottoman Empire and other European cities which were taken as models in the reconstruction process of the capital city were investigated and documented here for the sake of approaching the expropriations from a comparative angle.
Between theatrical politics and political theater: Late Ottoman theatrical spheres
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Süloş, Melis.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,
This thesis intends to perceive theater as one of the best stages representing the political tensions, and the intellectual movements of its epoch. In rethinking theater and politics in the late Ottoman Empire, I focused on two fields: Theatricality of the political sphere and the political theater. In the light of the memoirs, newspapers, travel accounts and the play scripts, this thesis scrutinizes the discovery and the manipulation of the popular theater as a political institution. By focusing on the politicization of the theater, which developed within the palatial circles, and the politicization of the repertoire after the Revolution of 1908 in the popular realm, this study examines the instrumentalization of the theater for different political agendas. The first part of the thesis examines the recent historiographical currents that brought history, anthropology and literature closer. The subsequent chapter is a brief discussion of the Ottoman theater historiography. The third part situates theater within the Ottoman 'Westernization' experience. The following chapter scrutinizes the politicization of the theater by the Young Ottomans through the Vatan and Gedikpaşa Incidents. The fifth part discusses the transformation of the theater performances into 'public catharses' with the proclamation of the Second Constitution. And the last chapter scrutinizes the politicization of the repertoire with the newly emerged genre of milli facia, putting the old regime on trial.
Alliance Israelite Universelle Schools within the existing school networks in the Ottoman Empire
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Şar, Onur.; Karakışla, Yavuz Selim,
This thesis examines the different schooling networks which were active in the Ottoman territories throughout the nineteenth century, with a specific focus upon the schools which were established by the Alliance Israélite Universelle. Highly influenced by the ideas of French Revolution and modernization, the organization which was instituted by a number of French Jews, inaugurated several schools for Ottoman Jewish communities at several localities. The primary aim of the association was to help oriental Jews to become like their European brothers. Their schools within Ottoman boundaries, thus, used to offer instruction with such a perspective. The aim of this thesis is realized through a number of primary and secondary sources, but its main contribution has been the integration of Ottoman archival materials into the topic. Together with other primary and secondary source materials, by the way of comparison, it was concluded that although Alliance schools may be labeled as foreign institutions on the basis of the fact that they were not under the jurisprudence of Ottoman Chief Rabbinate, in fact they differ from foreign schools in many ways. Furthermore, when the motive of establishment of foreign schools is taken into consideration, Alliance schools can be located in a limbo-like position between the schools established by foreign organizations and the community schools, which were under jurisprudence of millet başıs.|Keywords: Ottoman Empire, history of education, Alliance Israélite Universelle, schools, foreign schools, missionary schools, the nineteenth century
History of identification in the Ottoman lands: From the security of the person to the security of the state: Implementation of Mürur Tezkeresi in the nineteenth century
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Samastı, Fatmanur.; Toksöz, Meltem.; Faroqhi, Suraiya,
The subject of this study is the analysis of the implementations about the control of mobility within the Ottoman lands with regard to the discussions and theories about state formation and similar practices in the world and in the history of the Ottoman Empire. In this thesis, I focus on the implementation of mürur tezkeresi/travel permit, which was sort of an internal passport and which was stated to be compulsory for traveling within the Ottoman lands throughout the nineteenth century. Based on my investigations in the archival documents including general regulations and specific orders, and considering the literature on the issue, it is understood that, the implementation was not successful in preventing the migrations or controlling every step of the subjects. This fact made me question the mentality behind these implementations which lasted during a whole century. I was inspired by the arguments about identification practices in different places in the world, especially in Europe, through different tools one of which is the control of mobility via passports and internal passports. Also theories about the new regulations in the Ottoman lands after Tanzimat edict fostered my inquiry. Firstly, I try to show the background of the implementations about control of mobility in the Ottoman lands and discuss the mentality and motivation behind these. I continue with the theoretical and informational discussions about identification practices and mobility control in the European context. In addition to the literature review about the control of mobility in the Ottoman lands and in different contexts, dealing with the Ottoman reform arguments focusing mostly on the Tanzimat period and presenting two examples of approaching reform from the history of Egypt has provided me with a springboard to accurately approach the mentality behind the application of internal travel permits in the nineteenth century Ottoman lands. By means of these investigations, this study offers a re-evaluation of the implementation of control of movement to see the transformation of the mentality through a social historical reading of the period and to have an access to the minds of rulers in the nineteenth century Ottoman state.
"Staying away from politics, not foreseeing militarism": The case of corps of Greek scouts in Armistice Istanbul, 1918-1923
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Aslanoğlu, Anna Maria.; Kechriotis, Evangelos.
The core of this study deals with the reflection and attribution of nineteenth century values of modernity, Enlightenment and nation-building, to childhood and adolescence, with the aim of bringing up proper citizens of the nation. Within this ground of analyzing the relation between youth and mainstream politics, this study is focused on the raison dJ8tre of a particular youth organization, the Corps of Greek Scouts, and their activities during the post World War I years, where Istanbul was experiencing Allied occupation. i This thesis aims to contribute to the historiography of this particular period by I analyzing the mentioned youth organization within the scope of its European counterparts flourishing in the second decade of the twentieth century. The Corps of Greek Scouts of Constantinople, established with the signing of the Armistice, had been spread along and become popular among the Rum population, most of which was closely attached to Greek nationalism and Venizelism. The organic relations between the High Commission of Greece, the Corps of Greek Scouts and the local elites of the Rum community created an atmosphere of building the 'Hellenic' identity which was attributed to the 'unredeemed' Greeks of Istanbul. Thus, the Corps of Greek Scouts acted as a pedagogical organization educating and mobilizing youth, with the aim of preparing a disciplined, obedient, physically strong and fit, self-sufficient, ready, civilized and masculine citizen-soldiers of the future. This indoctrination became visible for the 'occupied' city with thepevformativity of the whole movement. This is how it was reflected as well in the official Turkish historiography, where the non-muslim populations were named as 'traitors'.
Celebrating difference: "Turkish Theatre" in the Chicago World’s Columbian exposition of 1893
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2010., 2010.) Sarıkaya, Cafer.; Öztürkmen, Arzu,
This thesis examines Turkish Theatre and its performances during the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Methodologically, the research adopts two primary sources, the Turkish Theatre: Souvenir Programme, and Musavver Şikago Sergisi, and also published memoirs of observers who witnessed the Exposition. The thesis attempts to provide an overview of recent research on the analysis of the world’s fairs, where both theatricality of the overall event, and the accompanying Orientalist gaze have been analyzed. Given the fact that international exhibitions provided a certain architectural and theatrical representation capacity for the Orient, the thesis attempts to understand how “Turkish Theatre” had been conceptualized for this event. Architecture provided an authentic setting and a visual summary of the represented culture displaying mosques, baths, caravanserais, cafés, houses and shops in a compact “pavilion”, where the presentation of everyday life was displayed through theatricality, dramatization of artisanship, display of regional and national costumes and of performances of theatre, ethnic music and local dances. The Turkish Theatre was directed by Pierre Butros Antonius, a Christian Arab from Mount Lebanon. There were 65 actors and actresses in total and 20 stockholders in the Ottoman theatre, all gathered by agents sent to different parts of the Empire to study the customs, manners and costumes and to engage these players from different cities of the Ottoman lands. The performers were presenting their shows to the American audience in the Arabic language with simultaneous English translations. The Turkish Theatre performances included the plays of the Kurdish Drama, the Kalamounic Drama, True Manhood, An Oriental Wedding in Damascus, the Drama of Antar the Son of Sheddad, the Drama of Haroun Al-Raschid, the Turkish Bride and the Prodigal Son. The spectators could understand these plays unlike the other theatre plays of the Eastern countries, such as the Chinese and Javanese theatres which were held only in the native languages. Based on published reviews and memoirs, the thesis attempts to historically visualize this unique Ottoman experience at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Buçuk millet: The Ottoman Gypsies in the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876-1909)
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2009., 2009.) Yüksel, Ceyda.; Karakışla, Yavuz Selim,
This thesis, in general, aimed to examine Gypsies who were the most neglected ethnic group of the Ottoman history. Until this time, it is witnessed that so many research and studies were done about various ethnic communities living within the borders of the Ottoman Empire, such as Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Assyrians... etc. Unfortunately, researches as already done about the ethnic group, nominated as Gypsy, are so under-developed quantitatively and qualitatively compared to studies about above-mentioned ethnic groups. Against the approach which almost ignored Gypsies, in this study, Gypsies were placed on the main axis of the thesis, and the clause of Buçuk Millet, which is typically used to describe Gypsies, was designated as the thesis title in reaction to current situation. This master thesis, specifically, touches on the place of the Ottoman Gypsies in state and societal system of the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II within the political, socio-economic and cultural context as well as it concerns itself with the problematique that how lives of the Ottoman Gypsies were affected in the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876-1909), one of the most critical periods of the Ottoman history; what kinds of changes they had experienced or what kinds of things remained as unchanged in their lives. In the name of adding new, profound and realistic dimension to ‘Gypsy’ phenomenon, the issue was handled without showing Gypsies as passive elements, so the relation of Gypsy-state and Gypsy-society tried to be scrutinized with doubled-sided approach. Besides, the reality, which Gypsies were fractionated as Muslim Gypsies and non-Muslim Gypsies in the eyes of the Ottoman State and between each other, and different perceptions in Gypsy groups caused by differentiation were exemplified. In order to underline ideally changes and stabilities in that period, primary materials were used predominantly in the thesis. In other words, the present thesis is largely based upon archival materials which were the most powerful testimonies of the reign, so the objective reality and reliability attempted to be provided by these documents. Next to archival materials, regarding secondary sources, literature survey was done and obtained sources related to the subject such as books, articles, thesis, novels, stories, monographs, traveller accounts, folkloric studies were adapted to the thesis. By dint of informations acquired through secondary sources, a chance has been grasped to investigate the matter from different aspects and profound standpoint of the thesis was reinforced.
The history of Yedikule and its place in military architecture
(Thesis (M.A)- Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 1991., 1991.) Koca-Eğrikavuk, Oya.; Kuran, Aptullah,
Philanthropy and appropriation policies towards the orphans and foundlings of the Greek Orthodox Community of Istanbul, (1852-1908)
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2009., 2009.) Özkan, Dilek.; Kechriotis, Vangelis.
This study, on the one hand, focuses on the treatment of orphans and foundlings of the Greek Orthodox community of Istanbul and concentrates on the appropriation policies applied towards them. On the other hand, it discusses the role of the philanthropy in terms of how it functioned as a welfare state in the public issues of the community with a motive to impose a certain ideology and intention on the poor and destitute members of the community. In this context, this thesis deals with the organization of the Yedikule Orphanage which was established in 1852, as a part of National Philanthropy institutions and discussions related to its transfer to Prinkipo in 1903 between the authorities of the community and the Ottoman state. It also argues that these orphanages, the Prinkipo national orphanage which continued to function in its new building in Büyükada after 1903, and the orphanage of girls, established in 1906 in Kınalıada (Proti), tried to be considered as one of the most important educational institutions of the Orthodox Greek community of Istanbul where they taught the Greek language and Greek orthodox ethnic identity. However, as it is asserted in this thesis, although these orphanages take attention due to their impressive buildings, their long distance from the city centre, the isolation and the marginalisation of the orphans as well as their dependency to generous donations of the benevolent continued have been increased.
Poetics and politics of photography: The representation of Japan in the photography collection of Abdulhamid II
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2009., 2009.) Kaygusuz, Banu.; Esenbel, Selçuk,
This thesis, pertaining to the photograph albums of Japan in the photography collection of Abdulhamid II, focuses primarily on the political and commercial use of photography tehnology as a mcans for the representation strategics of the "modern" state ad society. The thesis concerns how the photographic techiques and technologies were introduced into Japan and how the photography gained a commercial mening by virtue of the individual enterprises. The photographic careers of James Robertson and Felice Beato are examples of the transnational exchanges of images, ideas, techologies between the Qttoman Empire and Japan. The politicization of photography in the Ottoman Empire during the Hamidian period, was explored together with the notion of court photographer through the cse of Abdullah Fréres. The photographic of Ogawa Kazuma, Tamamura, Kozaburo, and Kusakabe Kinbei whose photographs convey the representations of Merji Japan to the Ottoman Empire, are treated with regard to the commercial and millitary commissions. Focusing on the five albums from Japan in the photography collection of Abdulhamid II, this study intends to construe the photographers, the physical presentations, and the subjects of these photography albums in the context of visual representation strategies of Japan of the Ottoman Empire within the transnational politics of photography through a multilingual archival research.
HAYMATLOS! exile: Turkey, Traugott Fuchs’ landscape of reconciliation
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2009., 2009.) Kalaycı, Suzan Meryem Rosita.; Esenbel, Selçuk,
This study aims to capture the émigré experience of German emigrants to Turkey in the Years 1933- 1945. By introducing the conceptual framework of haymatlos, the author tries to explain the émigré experience as a historical feeling rather than a sine qua non of world politics or the evils produced by Nazi Germany. Traugott Fuchs, who emigrated to Turkey as a young man in 1934, is not one of the grand names of the emigration to Turkey. It will be his life, however, that will bear example of the émigré experience in the global, local, personal and intellectual context. It will be, also, through his life that the conceptual framework of haymatlos will move from an attemptative definition to a more solidified definition that is deeply grounded, but still rootless, in the ‘mist of exile’. Diaspora and exile will then become the antidote to the horrors produced by Nazi Germany.
A historical analysis of Melami-Bayrami hagiographies
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2009., 2009.) Erken, Ali.; Terzioğlu, Derin.
This study analyzes three Melâmî-Bayrâmî menâkıbnâmes (hagiographies) written between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: Sarı Abdullah’s Semerâtü’l-Fuâd (c.1613), Lalizâde Abdülbâki’s Sergüzeşt (c.1740) and Müstakimzâde’s Menâkıbnâme-i Bayramiyye (c. 1750). The seventeenth century was a transformative period for the order in two senses. First, responding to the persecutions of the sixteenth century, Melâmî-Bayrâmî sheikhs increasingly preferred to hide their Melâmî-Bayrâmî affiliation and took refuge in other orders. Second, despite their earlier troubles and their newly increased secrecy, the order was able to spread into new social milieus and gain adherents among the ruling elites in İstanbul and the Balkan cities. This study argues that the dual transformation of the Melâmî-Bayrâmî order in this period marked its influence also on these hagiographies. Despite some differences between the contexts of the three texts, all three were written by the members of the Ottoman learned elite with ties to the ruling establishment, and all three represented an effort to project a considerably sanitized image of the Melâmî-Bayrâmîs. This thesis explores this sanitized image by looking specifically at how the three texts represent Melâmî-Bayrâmî sainthood, the relationship between Melâmî-Bayrâmîs and the other sufi orders and the persecution of Melâmî-Bayrâmîs in the preceding decades.
Conversion in the Late Ottoman Empire: a case study on the legal status of Greek Orthodox converted to Islam, 1856-1908
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2009., 2009.) Vasileiou, Maria.; Kechriotis, Vangelis.
This paper discusses the legal status of the Greek Orthodox converted to Islam in the Ottoman Empire for the period extending between the enhancement of the Tanzimat with the Islahat fermanı of 1856 until the end of the Hamidian period (1856-1908). This research was based primarily on court records from the “Basbakanlık Osmanlı Arsivleri” (Prime-minister Ottoman Archives) and on documents from the “Ιστορικά Αρχεία Μακεδονίας” (Historical Archives of Macedonia) with key figures of the era under examination. The conclusions reached were that, except for reasons of true faith in the righteousness of Islam, a Greek Orthodox would convert to improve his conditions of life in every aspect where the proclamation of equality was not or was partially applied. Conversion appears as a tool of social flexibility;its social consequences are obvious in the family, hereditary, property, penal and public law in general. Also conversion to Islam must have been considereds as a declaration of loyalty to the Porte. The Muslim community was always willing to embrace the new members and help them start a new life away from their former community, whereas the reaction of the convert’s former community to the act of the conversion was strong. Many cases of conversion ended in the apostasy of the Greek Orthodox convert. Apostasy took place because of the intervention of the local metropolitans or the convert’s changing his mind by himself/herself.
Reconstructing Yenice-i Vardar: patronage of the Evrenosoğlu family
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in the Social Sciences, 2008., 2008.) Umur, Yasemin.; Kafesçioğlu, Çiğdem.
Underlying this thesis is the conjecture that the Evrenosoğlu family’s patronage activities between the late fourteenth and the mid sixteenth centuries, and the destiny of their power base Yenice-i Vardar, were not independent of the political developments of the early Ottoman period. My premise is that unless the major edifices of the Evrenosoğlu family are placed in the proper context in which they were built, their meanings remain obscure, and their contemporary intentions lost. When viewed from this perspective, Evrenosoğlu patronage acts not only as an instrument for achieving various political and social goals or as a legitimizing device that could even challenge the authority of the sultan, but also as a tool of resistance, a way to assert identity in the face of the threat posed by the centralizing Ottoman state.
Sighting the Ottomans from the east: chinese intellectual transition from imperial to national imagination through the Ottomans at the turn of the twentieth century
(Thesis (M.A.)-Bogazici University. Institute for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences, 2009., 2009.) Altan, Selda.; Esenbel, Selçuk,
This thesis examines the Chinese perception of the Ottomans within the global context of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, in which novel ideas and discourses of nationalism were generated, and it aims at comprehending the intellectual transition from imperial to national imagination in China through the examination of these ideas and discourses. In other words, the Chinese perception of the Ottomans at the turn of the century is utilized to understand how Chinese national space was produced at discourse level by reference to the Ottomans. The aim of the thesis is realized through reading Chinese texts produced in the late nineteenth century to 1911. These texts include commentary works of Chinese intellectuals who tried to figure out the global world space and its relation to the national space. The common point in these articles is the utilization of the Ottoman case by Chinese intellectuals who had various ideological orientations as an example for their constitutionalist, revolutionary and nationalist causes. Through this examination, it was concluded that although the Ottoman case was utilized by Chinese intellectuals, it was not viewed in a consistent manner. From the perspective of Chinese intellectuals, the Ottomans from various social levels were isomorphic as they were victimized by the imperial West while the Ottoman Empire had imperial claims over both Chinese Muslims and the nations under its rule within the imperial competition of global politics. Hence, the vague perception of the Ottoman Empire and fragmented viewing of the Ottomans had a minor but noteworthy place in the production of Chinese nationalist discourses.

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