Late Ottoman Era Research Articles

From Concept to Novel: Tâhirülmevlevî’s (1877-1951) Sufi Engagement and Critique of Teşebbüs-i Şahsî (Individual Initiative) in the Late Ottoman Era

During the late Ottoman era, particularly the Hamidian period (1876-1909), a culture of diligent labor and industriousness emerged, emphasizing economic progress. State-led initiatives triggered substantial socio-economic shifts, alongside increased regulations to integrate Sufi networks into state apparatus to reduce their economic burden due to constant benefit from the endowment funds. At this juncture, Tâhirülmevlevî (Mehmet Tâhir Olgun) (d. 1951) departed from the Yenikapı Mevlevîhâne and firmly rejected benefiting from endowment funds. Instead, he turned to press and publishing activities that he believed would sustain both his livelihood and spiritual service. His narrative, especially encapsulated in his autobiographical novel Teşebbüs-i Şahsî (1912), offers a critique of the administrative reforms of the era, articulating a perspective that the lack of ethical integrity and judicial fairness severely impeded the successful adoption of teşebbüs-i şahsî (individual initiative) frameworks. His reflections extend to critique societal perceptions of Sufis as economic dependents, delving into why substantial reforms failed to gain traction within the Turkish-Muslim community. Through his literary and journalistic endeavors, Olgun not only personifies the concept of individual initiative but also critically examines its execution and impact within the complex socio-political landscape of late Ottoman society, underscoring the complex interplay between individual aspirations and collective societal transformations.

Exploring the Traditional Turkish Ucetek Entari of the Late Ottoman Era from the Izmir Ethnography Museum Collection

The ucetek entari, üç etek or three-skirt robe, was the main element of traditional Turkish women’s clothing, worn with a chemise and shalwar. The features of this special garment extend to the clothing culture of the ancestors of the Turks who lived in Eurasia. The structure of the ucetek entari is typical Ottoman attire, with a small standup collar, long sleeves open up to the elbows, high slits on each side of the skirt, and triangular pieces added for fullness. This research was conducted in the Izmir Ethnography Museum to analyze the fabrics, embroidery, and pattern-making techniques of the ucetek entari, along with their zero waste and multifunctional design approach. The main fabrics, linings, facings, their yarn count in the warp and weft directions, pattern dimensions, embroidery properties, other surface decorations, and technical drawings of the robes were photographed and examined in detail. The results revealed that ucetek entaris were daily or special occasion wear which were designed using mostly silk and cotton fabrics. The focus of this research is to analyze in depth the ucetek entaris in the Izmir Ethnography Museum.

Confronting Modernity and the Transformation of the Muslim Family in Ömer Nasuhi̇ Bi̇lmen’s Writings in the 20th Century

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Ottoman State underwent a process of modernization driven by political, legal, and social reforms. This period was marked by a cautious approach to change by Ottoman scholars, including Ömer Nasuhi Bilmen. Bilmen was a highly influential Muslim intellectual and Islamic legal scholar during the late Ottoman era and the early years of secular Turkey. This article examines Bilmen’s confrontation of modernity and his responses to societal changes through specific issues relevant to his time in the late Ottoman era. It discusses his role in addressing obstacles, his observations of ongoing transformations, and his critiques of European hegemony and modernization. The study focuses on Bilmen’s articles written in Ottoman Turkish between 1920 and 1922, particularly on marriage, divorce, polygamy, and population growth policies.

Turkish folk songs in Greek musical collections of the late Ottoman era

During the late Ottoman period, there was a great deal of interest in folk culture. After all, this was a period when the various ethno-religious communities of the Ottoman Empire began to form national states, such as Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Serbia. At the same time, the Ottoman state turned its attention to the Turkish people and began to shape the Turkish national identity in order to create a sense of unity among the Turkish-speaking Muslim community. In this effort to cultivate the national identity of the people, religion and folk culture were fully exploited. This study examines the musical collections published by the Greek Orthodox Christian community of the Ottoman Empire, specifically the Efterpi (1830), Pandora (1843), Mecmua-yı Makamat (1856 & 1872-1873), Kallifonos Sirin (1859 & 1888) and Music Journal (1896) editions. These collections were printed in Istanbul and addressed to Greek-speaking Orthodox Christians. They consist mainly of Greek Orthodox ecclesiastical music, Greek secular music, and some Greek folk songs. Interestingly, the collections additionally include Ottoman music and Turkish folk music. It should be noted that the main language of the collections is Greek, and some Karamanlidika, and the musical transcriptions have been written down in Byzantine notation. This paper presents data on these transcriptions. The songs are transnotated from Byzantine notation to Turkish staff notation. 3 of these transnotations are presented here. After this process, different results are obtained regarding the way the songs were transcribed by the Rum musicians in comparison to their transcriptions by Turkish musicians of a later period.

History and current state of parliamentary oversight in Iraq

The phenomenon of Iraqi constitutionalism traditionally arouse skepticism among researchers. This is due not only to the historical difficulties faced by Iraqi constitutionalism, but also to the lack, according to researchers, of effective mechanisms for legal protection of the constitution. Among such mechanisms is the institution of parliamentary control in Iraq and its historical predecessors that has received virtually no coverage among Russian constitutional scholars, which determines the relevance of the study. The object of the study is the history and current state of parliamentary control in Iraq. Having proposed his own periodization of the history of Iraqi statehood, the author analyzes the main sources of legal regulation of parliamentary control in each of the identified historical periods, also referring to the assessments of applying constitutional provisions practice and assessments of contemporaries. The research method is the analysis of relevant normative regulation and practical implementation of constitutional norms on parliamentary control based on the assessments of constitutional scholars. The author concludes that the institution of parliamentary control in Iraq emerged in the late Ottoman era and strengthened in the first half of the XX century, after which it was dismantled for political, ideological and legal reasons. The author analyzes the current state of the institution of parliamentary control in Iraq, including atypical control powers of modern parliament. According to the author, their emergence is a reaction of the constitutional legislator to consistent oppression of mechanisms of popular representation, which, however, led to radicalization of the role of parliament in the system of separation of powers in Iraq.

The late Ottoman era and its legacy for nursing in Turkey

ABSTRACT Reforms in the late Ottoman era had dramatic effects on health, education, and gender roles. Women had been midwives and nurses in the imperial palace since the early modern period, but few had public roles and they did not participate in the military sphere. This study examines nursing at the crossroads of these changes, showing that shifting societal attitudes form the context for women’s increasing involvement in public activities and professions and contributed to their successful wartime recruitment by the Ottoman Red Crescent in the early twentieth century, setting the stage for modern nursing’s development in the Republic of Turkey.

Geç Osmanlı Dönemi̇ ve Erken Cumhuri̇yet Dönemi̇ Arasında Yayımlanan Türkçe Gazeteleri̇n Di̇l Anali̇zi

The aim of this work is to investigate the evolution of the Turkish language through an analysis of the newspapers’ articles published between the Late Ottoman and the Early Turkish Republican Eras. To conduct this analysis, this work focuses on the etymology of words used in the newspapers’ articles. We decided to focus on newspapers for two main reasons. On the one hand, press emerged in the Turkish cultural context with the aim to inform people about subjects of public interest (e.g., politics, economy, culture). Consequently, newspapers needed to adopt a language register that could be understood by a wide audience. On the other hand, we decided to focus on the language of newspapers since the latter represent one of the most effective means through which language spreads among speakers. Concerning this matter, we analyzed articles from newspapers published in the Late Ottoman Era such as Tasvir-i Efkâr, İkdam and Tercüman-ı Hakikat, as well as others from the Early Republican Era such as Cumhuriyet, Akşam and Milliyet. Articles included in this analysis were published between 1864 and 1936. Through the analysis of these examples, the scope of this work is to find an answer to the question on whether there are common features in Turkish language between the Late Ottoman and the Early Republican Eras. Moreover, this paper aims to understand the impact of the language reform on the evolution of Turkish.

Attempting to grasp the architectural formation of the facades overlooking the courtyard: Al-Jadida neighborhood housing in Aleppo during the late Ottoman period (since the 18th century)

PurposeThe study examines the residential facades of the Al-Jadida neighborhood, focusing on the use of geometry and proportion in Aleppo's architectural history during the late Ottoman era. The analysis sheds light on the city's past and provides insights into the way residents utilized space and interacted with their surroundings.Design/methodology/approachThe study involves collecting primary and secondary sources, including historical documents, photographs, and drawings. Visual analysis is employed to examine the facades overlooking the courtyard, with a focus on windows, doors, balconies, and other distinctive features that contribute to the overall courtyard design.FindingsThe findings reveal that traditional Aleppine architecture is centered around the courtyard and incorporates decorative openings and windows reflecting Islamic principles. Stone decorations are used with unique designs based on geometry and composition, contributing to Aleppo's cultural identity.Research limitations/implicationsIncluding more samples for studying facades allows for the identification of changes in architectural styles and the influence of different cultural influences on the city's architecture over time. Moreover, conducting further studies is crucial for preserving this important part of Aleppo's history for future generations.Originality/valueThis research analyzes architectural facades in late Ottoman Aleppo, offering insights for future studies and understanding architectural design development. It also informs preservation efforts for historic buildings, enhancing understanding of architectural features and characteristics.

حركة التفسير في الجزائر قبل ميلاد جمعية العلماء المسلمين الجزائريين The interpretation movement in Algeria before the birth of the Algerian Muslim Scholars Association

The research deals with the study of the interpretation movement in one of the stages of its development in Algeria which extends from the late Ottoman era to the period before the birth of the Algerian Association of Muslim Scholars. The research aims to identify the interpreters of that stage and their books in interpretation, and it also aims to derive the result of the features of the interpretation in that stage and their causes. The research concluded by mentioning a several of Algerian interpreters who were preoccupied with interpretation in Algeria at that time, whether they were preoccupied with written or oral interpretation. Highlighting their written books in interpretation. The research also concluded that the state of the interpretation movement at that time was weak and traditional and plagued by stagnation because of several reasons and factors that arose from different sides.

حركة التفسير في الجزائر قبل ميلاد جمعية العلماء المسلمين الجزائريين The interpretation movement in Algeria before the birth of the Algerian Muslim Scholars Association

The research deals with the study of the interpretation movement in one of the stages of its development in Algeria which extends from the late Ottoman era to the period before the birth of the Algerian Association of Muslim Scholars. The research aims to identify the interpreters of that stage and their books in interpretation, and it also aims to derive the result of the features of the interpretation in that stage and their causes. The research concluded by mentioning a several of Algerian interpreters who were preoccupied with interpretation in Algeria at that time, whether they were preoccupied with written or oral interpretation. Highlighting their written books in interpretation. The research also concluded that the state of the interpretation movement at that time was weak and traditional and plagued by stagnation because of several reasons and factors that arose from different sides.

Jewish-Bedouin relations in the late Ottoman Era, 1858–1914

ABSTRACT The complex relationship between Bedouins and Zionist pioneers in the Land of Israel during the late 19th and early 20th centuries evolved along two parallel tracks: conflict and cooperation. The former was a corollary of the sociocultural gap between the pioneers and the Bedouins and revolved by and large around the diametrically opposed views regarding land ownership rights and their implications (e.g. access to water, grazing). The latter was a result of the growing Bedouin realisation that the Zionist project was there to stay: the more the Jewish pioneers proved their determination to cultivate their lands and defend themselves the more they won Bedouin respect, or at least grudging acquiescence, which in turn evolved to wider recognition of the vast socioeconomic benefits of peaceful coexistence.

Path dependency in aesthetic control management within Turkish planning history

ABSTRACT This article examines the effects of socio-economic and political events on the control and management of aesthetics by analysing Turkey’s urban planning process using Istanbul as the case study. The external events were analysed in Istanbul by exploring the historical patterns of Turkey’s urban planning and development history. The urban aesthetics concept, characterized by different periods from the late Ottoman era until today, includes the involvement, development, and continuity of different concepts of aesthetics in the planning process. In this study, the path dependence concept has been used as a methodology, which reveals that critical junctures or major changes have happened by changing economic and political conditions at the national and international levels. Five critical junctures were identified. The findings indicate that path dependence and trajectories revealed different institutional structures without any integrity for aesthetic control under planning regulations.

THE POSITION OF MODERN ARABIC POETRY FROM THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE BETWEEN 1875-1925

The last years of the Ottoman Empire were filled with turmoil, disagreements, and conflicts, and many internal and external endeavors. To exhaust it, and eliminate it, especially in the era of Sultan Abdul Hamid, who differed opinions about his policy of ruling. Some of them see in him the tyrannical sultan, the oppressor who sought to silence and stifle freedoms, and some of them see him as an example of the righteous ruler who sought reform and preserving the unity of the Islamic nation, but the plots were very big, and therefore he was unable to prevent him from doing that. His ruling was to isolate him and install someone else, for he is the Sultan who did not sell Palestine to the Jews, and did not order the army to clash with the forces that marched from Silanik to isolate him, so he kept the blood of Muslims from being looted and prevented fighting between brothers. Modern Arab poetry was neither oblivious nor far from these events, most of which were mirrored by many poets in their poetry, such as the poet Ahmad Shawqi, Hafiz Ibrahim, Muhammad Abdul Muttalib, Elijah Abi Madi, Muhammad al-Eid Al-Khalifa, and none of them were among them. The literature of the diaspora has had a share in depicting the events of this period with the variation in opinions and positions, especially that the winds of nationalism began to blow forcefully over the region through external movement, and it was more than an Arab region (state) such as Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt emerged from the Ottoman rule and became the Ottoman Empire. western. Thus, Arabic poetry was a mirror that lived through reality, and reflected it. And these poems, especially those with a negative direction, had a great role in deepening the gap between the Turks and Arabs after the First World War until now. This study aims to clarify the position of modern Arabic poetry on the Ottoman state, whether negative or positive, based on the opinion of more than one Arab poet, a solution, a prominent figure who lived in that period and lived closely with it. The importance of the research is evident in its topic and its goal, especially in this difficult period in which the cunning work to drive the wedges of division between Arabs and Turks, as they did in the late Ottoman era. The study relies on methods of description and analysis, using history if needed, especially the notes of Sultan Abdul Hamid that he wrote with his own hand.

Limits and Opportunities: Women and Their Experiences in the Entertainment Sector during the Late Ottoman Era

The present article examines middle and lower-class women, their experi- ences and complex relationships with various actors in the entertainment sector dur- ing the late Ottoman era (19th and 20th century). This article points out that middle- class Ottoman Muslim women appear in this sector only as private property owners in contrast to non-Muslim Ottoman and foreign middle-class female entrepreneurs and business managers. It also draws attention to self-employed women in the sec- tor that represented the lower part of the middle-class. It then considers the lower class Ottoman non-Muslim and foreign women who worked as acrobats, singers, dancers, and actresses; for cultural/religious reasons, Muslim women could not hold positions on the theater stage until 1920. This approach categorizes the women who entered the sector as either lower and middle-class, specifies their various roles and religious/ethnic backgrounds. Fundamental to the proposed analysis are the everyday experiences of the lower class working women, including their public display of their sexuality, practicing prostitution, exposure to male violence, and having an intricate relationship with the state, customers, and other performers. Thus, this article seeks to capture the voices of women who became involved in the entertainment sector, with its ethnic/religious, class and gender dimensions.

Empires of Antiquities: Modernity and Discovery of the Ancient Near East, 1914–1950

Empires of Antiquities: Modernity and Discovery of the Ancient Near East, 1914–1950

Jews and Palestinians in the Late Ottoman Era, 1908–1914: Claiming the Homeland

Jews and Palestinians in the Late Ottoman Era, 1908–1914: Claiming the Homeland

Infrastructure Development and Waterfront Transformations: Physical and Intangible Borders in Haifa Port City

Constructed on its natural bay as a fortified Muslim town in the late 18th century, Haifa’s port city transformed into a modern cosmopolitan port city in the second half of the 19th century. Significant technological, administrative, and social changes made Haifa into the transportation and economic hub of northern Palestine: Its harbor, the first in the region, became a gate to the east for commodities, pilgrimages, and ideas. British imperialism enlarged it with landfill areas and added an industrial function, constructing refineries and a connecting pipeline with Iraq. Haifa port served as the main entry port for immigration and goods for the newly founded Israeli state. Privatization and neo-liberalization transformed it from national port to international corporate hub, reshaping both port and city. Individual entrepreneurs, local governments, and imperial actions shaped and reshaped the landscape; perforating new access points, creating porous borders, and a new socioeconomic sphere.<strong> </strong>This process persisted through the Late Ottoman era, the British Mandate, and the Israeli state. From the first Ottoman landfills to the sizeable British harbor of 1933, the market economy led urban planning of Haifa’s waterfront and its adjacent railroad to the current Chinese petrol-harbor project. What were the city’s tangible and intangible borders? How did these changes, influenced by local and foreign agendas, unfold? Tapping into built-environment evidence; archival documents (architectural drawings, plans, maps, and photographs); and multidisciplinary academic literature to examine Haifa’s urban landscape transformation, this article studies the history of Haifa’s planned urban landscape—focusing on transformations to the port and waterfront to adjust to new technologies, capital markets, and political needs. We thus explore Haifa port history as a history of porosity and intangibility—rather than the accepted history of European modernization—building upon theoretical literature on global networks and urban form, regional dynamics of port cities, and tangible and intangible border landscapes.

Jews and Palestinians in the Late Ottoman Era, 1908–1914: Claiming the Homeland by Louis A. Fishman

Jews and Palestinians in the Late Ottoman Era, 1908–1914: Claiming the Homeland by Louis A. Fishman

BUILDING MODERN HISTORIOGRAPHY IN TURKEY IN THE EARLIER YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC

Modern historiography in today’s sense emerged in the 19th century even though studies of history date back to very old times. It turned into an academic discipline in the 19th century due to the economic, social, political and cultural developments in Western Europe during the 15th century, and thus the science of history became the warranty for the existence of societies and one of the most important factors in social and cultural development. Although certain developments occurred in the late Ottoman era in modern historiography beside traditional historiography within the scope of modernisation movements, the area was founded and developed as an academic discipline during the Republican era- which was founded under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the early 20th century in Turkey. This study aims to analyse the historical development of historiography in the Ottoman Empire prior to the Republican era and thus to manifest the foundations of modern historiography which were laid by the studies of history initiated by Ataturk in the early Republic period. It examines and evaluates relevant publications, theses and documents obtained from the archives of prime ministry and of the education board of ministry of national education employing document analysis.

Construction Grant For Ebniye Master Builders In The Late Ottoman Era

The renovations/regulations in the institutional structure of Ottoman State that started with the Tanzimat Era required/ brought out a novel organization. In the process, Hassa Mimarlar Ocağı (The Corps of Royal Architects), the active institution of the Ottoman architecture during the classical period and till the early 19th century, gave its place to the Ebniye İdaresi (Directorate of Buildings), handing over all sorts of building and construction works to the Şehremaneti (Istanbul Municipality). Henceforth, with new regulations at certain intervals, the Ebniye Kanunları (Building Laws) were introduced in an effort to inspect the construction activities. As the most eminent figures of the era, Ebniye master builders became responsible for all stages of construction production processes within the architectural activities. Despite the fact that educated architects started to emerge together with the introduction of the first architecture school, both local and non-Muslim contractors, architects and master builders from abroad remained as the dominant actors till the early 20th century due to the scarcity of schooled ones.  This study reviews the qualitative issues of the ebniye master builders who carried out the construction processes of civil and state buildings, with samples from central and provincial cases based on a number of documents found in the Ottoman Archives. Quality and standard issues in the construction materials of the era together with the troublesome construction activities causing technical and financial problems between the master builders and employers were cited by certain contemporary master builders. As a result of the petitions of master builders stating their troubles and proposed solutions, and the efforts of the Şehremaneti (Istanbul Municipality), it was decided that a şehadetname (construction building testimonial) would be issued to ebniye masterbuilders; however, the method was abandoned after its application for a while.