COURSE UNIT TITLE

: HISTORY OF OTTOMAN MODERNIZATION

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
ERA 3090 HISTORY OF OTTOMAN MODERNIZATION ELECTIVE 2 0 0 6

Offered By

History

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR YAKUP ÖZTÜRK

Offered to

History
History (Evening)

Course Objective

This course focuses on the Ottoman Empire's reformative and transformative phase in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Its primary goal is to introduce students with a broad grasp of the many sociopolitical, economic, and cultural shifts that drove the Ottoman state's modernization initiatives. Students will acquire insight into the reasons that drove the empire's attempts to adapt and modernize in response to internal and foreign challenges by analyzing the various complexity of this historical period. The course seeks to examine the impact of modernization on Ottoman society, institutions, and governance, as well as the obstacles and consequences encountered during this period of transition. Students will build a nuanced perspective on the dynamic and diverse nature of Ottoman modernization via critical examination of primary sources and scholarly research.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Understand the historical context and significant events of the Ottoman Empire's modernizing phase, especially the Tanzimat reforms, and how they shaped the empire's trajectory.
2   Analyze the sociopolitical, economic, and cultural variables that affected Ottoman modernization, and identify the empire's internal and foreign problems during this reformative and transformative period.
3   Assess the impact of modernization on Ottoman society, institutions, and government, as well as the implications of these developments for the empire's relationships with neighboring areas and world powers.
4   Criticize scholarly literature on Ottoman modernity, as well as to use historical approaches to produce informed arguments and interpretations.
5   Comprehend the lasting impact of Ottoman modernization on the modern Middle East and the Balkans and its relation to sociopolitical changes.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction: Reform and Modernization Geography and historical background of the Ottoman Empire
2 Reform in the Eighteenth Century Overview of the 18th century reforms and their objectives.
3 Tanzimat Reforms - I Administrative, legal, and educational reforms.
4 Tanzimat Reforms - II Critiques and challenges to the Tanzimat reforms.
5 Economy and Modernization Economic changes and attempts to modernize the Ottoman economy.
6 Bureaucracy and Modernization Exploration of the reforms and changes in the Ottoman bureaucracy during the modernization period.
7 Culture and Modernization: Examination of the cultural developments and transformations that occurred as part of the Ottoman modernization process, focusing on literature, arts, and intellectual movements.
8 Midterm
9 Society and Modernization Social changes, urbanization, and shifts in public sphere.
10 Reform in fin de siècle Reforms and policies implemented during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II.
11 The Young Ottomans and Reforms in the Second Constitutional Era Young Ottoman thinkers and their visions for the future of the empire.
12 Ottoman Modernization and Global Context Comparison with other modernization experiences in the world.
13 Historiographical Debates In-depth discussion of various historical perspectives on Ottoman modernization and its consequences. Comparison of interpretations and their implications.
14 Legacy of Ottoman Modernization The enduring influence of the Ottoman Empire on modern-day Türkiye and the Middle East. Contemporary challenges and continuities with the Ottoman past.
15 Overview and Conclusions Comprehensive review of the course's key themes and concepts, providing students with a cohesive understanding of Ottoman modernization. Concluding discussions on the lasting impact and relevance of the Ottoman modernization experience in the broader context of global history and its implications for contemporary developments.
16 Final

Recomended or Required Reading

Students will be provided with a reading pack (pdf) outlining the 14-week course, consisting of the following works.
--
Abou-El-Haj, R. A. (2005). Formation of the Modern State: The Ottoman Empire, Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries. Syracuse University Press.
Anderson, M. S. (1966). The Eastern Question, 1774-1923: A Study in International Relations. Macmillan.
Brew, G. (2018). Tanzimat Reforms and Modernization in the Ottoman Empire. Gale, Cengage Learning.
Davison, R. H. (1973). Reform in the Ottoman Empire, 1856-1876. Gordian Press.
Findley, C. V. (2012). Bureaucratic Reform in the Ottoman Empire: The Sublime Porte, 1789-1922. Princeton University Press.
Gerolymatos, A. (2002). The Balkan Wars. Basic Books.
Inalcik, H., & Quataert, D. (Eds.). (1997). An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire. Cambridge University Press.
Inalcık, H. (1993). The Middle East and the Balkans Under the Ottoman Empire: Essays on Economy and Society. Indiana University Turkish Studies.
Islamoğlu-Inan, H., & Perdue, P. C. (2019). Shared Histories of Modernity: China, India and the Ottoman Empire. Routledge.
Islamoğu-Inan, H. (2004). The Ottoman Empire and the World-Economy. Cambridge University Press.
Itzkowitz, N. (2008). Ottoman Empire and Islamic Tradition. University of Chicago Press.
Köksal, Y. (2019). The Ottoman Empire in the Tanzimat Era: Provincial Perspectives from Ankara to Edirne. Routledge.
Lewis, B. (1961). The Emergence of Modern Türkiye. Oxford University Press.
Mardin, S. (2019). Genesis of Young Ottoman Thought. Princeton University Press.
Meeker, M. (2002). A Nation of Empire: The Ottoman Legacy of Turkish Modernity. University of California Press.
Pamuk, S. (2000). A Monetary History of the Ottoman Empire. Cambridge University Press.
Quataert, D. (2005). The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922. Cambridge University Press.
Rubin, A. (2011). Ottoman Nizamiye Courts: Law and Modernity. Springer.
Somel, S. A. (2021). The Modernization of Public Education in the Ottoman Empire 1839-1908: Islamization, Autocracy and Discipline. BRILL.
Zürcher, E. J. (2017). Türkiye: A Modern History. Bloomsbury Academic.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lectures
Presentations
Discussions

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 PAR PARTICIPATION
3 FIN FINAL EXAM
4 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.40 + PAR * 0.10 + FIN * 0.50
5 RST RESIT
6 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.40 + PAR * 0.10 + RST * 0.50


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

This course employs a balanced approach to evaluate students' comprehension and interest. The evaluation consists of three components, with the midterm examination accounting for 40% of the total grade, the final examination for the 50% and class participation for the remaining 10%. The midterm examination will consist of both objective and essay-style questions, allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge and critical reasoning. Students will be encouraged to synthesize their learning from the entire semester and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the complexities of ordinary life in the Ottoman Empire on the final exam, which carries a heavier weight. In addition, throughout the course, students' participation in class discussions will be evaluated to ensure a comprehensive assessment of their progress and engagement with the learning process. The combination of these assessment methods is intended to facilitate a comprehensive and well-rounded evaluation of students' academic performance and overall subject mastery.

Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria for this course are intended to provide a transparent framework for evaluating students' performance and knowledge of the material. The evaluation will be based on the following standards:
- Students will be evaluated on their knowledge and comprehension of the main concepts, historical events, and social structures associated with reform and modernization in the Ottoman Empire. This criterion will assess the extent to which students comprehend the foundational information presented in lectures and readings.
- Students will be evaluated on their ability to analyze and interpret historical sources, artifacts, and primary documents. The course promotes critical thinking skills. Students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to engage critically with the material and draw logical conclusions.
- Active participation in classroom discussions, group activities, and debates will be assessed. The willingness of students to contribute positively to the learning environment and interact with their peers will be considered.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

Attendance to 70% of the courses is compulsory.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

Asst. Prof. Dr. Yakup ÖZTÜRK

E-mail: yakup.ozturk@deu.edu.tr
Tel : 0232 301 8735

Office Hours

Monday 10.00-12.00

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 2 28
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 14 3 42
Preparation for midterm exam 1 10 10
Preparation for final exam 1 20 20
Reading 14 3 42
Midterm 1 2 2
Final 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 146

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12
LO.155
LO.253
LO.3344
LO.43355
LO.55