CLHUMHI013 - Legendary Turkey
Legendary Turkey offers a sweeping overview of Turkish history, from the seminomadic origins of the Turkic people and their rising political power and conversion to Islam in the late medieval period, through the establishment of the powerful Ottoman Empire to the creation of the modern Republic of Turkey. Dr. Lisa Balabanlilar explores the Ottoman Empire’s expansion across eastern Rome (Byzantium) and the Mediterranean world—both threat and ally with the rival states of Christian Europe—to become the longest-lived empire in world history. Finally, this course examines the 19th century collapse of Ottoman power, its utter destruction in World War I, the resistance led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the creation of the modern Republic of Turkey (now known as Türkiye). We close with a brief update on modern Turkish life and politics.
Note: This course is offered in conjunction with the Rice Alumni Traveling Owls’ April–May 2023 trip, Legendary Turkey, guided by Dr. Lisa Balabanlilar. Tour participation is not required to register for this class.
Course Details
Lisa Balabanlilar, Ph.D., is the Joseph and Joanna Nazro Mullen Professor in the Humanities, director of the Chao Center for Asian Studies and chair of the Department of Transnational Asian Studies. She teaches courses on the history of India, the Mongol empire and Sufism in Islamic history, among other topics. Dr. Balabanlilar specializes in medieval and early modern Islamic history and kingship. Her most recent book titled “The Emperor Jahangir: Power and Kingship in Mughal India” was published in 2020. Dr. Balabanlilar has won several teaching awards at Rice, including the Phi Beta Kappa Sophie Meyer Farb Award, the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching and the George R. Brown Award for Teaching Excellence.
On Campus
This course will be delivered on campus / in person. Parking and room information will be sent prior to the class start date.
- Who are the Turks: Origins in Central Asia (religion and society), empire and migration
- Conversion to Islam, new political formations, eastern Rome
- The Ottoman Empire
- The modern Republic of Turkey (Türkiye)
Department of History, Rice University; Rice University Office of Alumni Relations; Department of Transnational Asian Studies, Rice University
This course is offered in conjunction with the Rice Alumni Traveling Owls’ April–May 2023 trip, Legendary Turkey, guided by Dr. Lisa Balabanlilar. Tour participation is not required to register for this class.