Metehan Aydemir 21802768

Why we study ottoman history?

When history is mentioned, the history of nations or countries came to mind until the 21st
century. However, in the last 40-50 years, this attitude has changed with the change of historians'
understanding of history. While in the past the understanding of event historiography was dominant
only on the basis of nations, people or countries, the understanding of "everything is history" has
begun to be more accepted today. According to this understanding, even a hay fever can have a
history. But what history will write is determined by its connection with the today. According to this
understanding, even a hay fever can have a history. “But what history will write?” is determined by
its connection with current events and today discussions. 1

In this context, "Ottoman History" attracts the attention of historians and people interested
in history because it is closely related to today's political, social and cultural events and discussions.
What the 600-year-old Ottoman dynasty did and could not do has a great influence on shaping of
today's world politics and ottoman territory’s social life and culture. The Ottoman state, which put
forward a multi-religious and effective political system in the past, has set an example for the states
of its time, as well as still affecting today's politics with its wars, the policies it has followed, its
military structure and its form of administration. The interactions of the raiders living on the borders
of the Ottoman Empire with the neighboring states or principalities had an impact on both the social
life of the Ottoman Empire and the social life of the neighboring states. Moreover, as a result of
commercial, political and social interactions with European countries, social aspects of Ottoman-
Turkish society such as art, music, sense of humor, eating and drinking habits have evolved. This
evolution is still going on now and knowing the history of this evolution and its causes will provide
great help to analyze the benefits, harms and all kinds of consequences of this evolution. 2

On the other hand, it is important to examine historical events in order to understand the
political, social and cultural events that can be experienced today. A historical event that may seem
insignificant or irrelevant for the moment can play an important role in solving complex political,
cultural and social problems to be experienced in the future. From this point of view, we study
Ottoman history in order to both understand current events and to analyze and predict future
events.3

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1
“Özgür i ̇ktisat Açık Dersleri #13: Cemal Kafadar - Tarih neyi Yazar, Neye Yarar?,” YouTube, 24-Jul-2021.
[Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIesXrbJShs&t=1505s&ab_channel=Ozgur
%C4%B0ktisat. [Accessed: 09-Oct-2022].
2
D. Quataert, “1,” in The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
3
U. of C. T.- https://www.uctv.tv UCTV, “Video: The future of history -- UP next: Perspectives on the future of
everything,” UCTV, University of California Television. [Online]. Available: https://www.uctv.tv/shows/The-
Future-of-History-Up-Next-Perspectives-on-the-Future-of-Everything-30417. [Accessed: 09-Oct-2022].