Ottoman Turkish through a
Survey of Ottoman History Books (15th-18th century)
Dr. Ufuk Erol
About the course:
This 12-week advanced course is made for people who already have some knowledge of Ottoman Turkish. It provides a deep look into late medieval and early modern Ottoman history by closely reading and analyzing original texts from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The primary language of instruction will be English, as Ottoman Turkish texts will be translated into English for further interpretation. The course aims to develop reading proficiency and cultivate an understanding of Ottoman historical writing as a literary and political tradition. Each week, students engage with selected passages from major historical works, examining historiographical trends, narrative strategies, and the evolving conventions of the genre. Through reading primary sources, participants refine their ability to interpret syntactic structures, Arabic–Persian–Turkish linguistic hybridity, rhetorical devices, and genre-specific vocabulary. Particular attention is given to the analysis of the historical context and writing style as well as to similarities and differences between the Ottoman and Iranian history writing traditions. The course is especially suited to learners of Ottoman Turkish, graduate students, and researchers in Ottoman and Turkish studies, Islamic history, Ottoman–Safavid relations, and Turkish literature who seek engagement with Ottoman primary sources in the original language.
15th Century
Week 1 -Dasitan-ı Tevarih-i Müluk-i Al-i Osman by Ahmedi & Düsturname by Enveri
Week 2- Tarih-i Ebu’l-Feth by Tursun Bey & Tevarih-i Al-i Osman by Aşıkpaşazade
16th Century
Week 3- Tevarih-i Al-i Osman by Kemalpaşazade
Week 4-Selimname by Muhyi Çelebi & Selimname by Şükri-i Bidlisi
Week 5- Tevarih-i Al-i Osman by Lütfi Paşa
Week 6- Tabakatü’l-Memalik by Celalzade
Week 7- Süleymanname by Matrakçı Nasuh & Süleymanname by Celalzade Salih
Week 7- Tacü’t-Tevarih by Hoca Sadeddin
17th & 18th Century
Week 8- Künhü’l-Ahbar by Gelibolulu Mustafa Ali
Week 9- Şehname by Arifi Çelebi & Şehinşahname by Lokman b. Hüseyin
Week 10- Tarih-i Solakzade by Solakzade Mehmed Hemdemi Çelebi
Week 11- Camiü’d-Düvel by Müneccimbaşı
Week 12- Tarih-i Naima by Mustafa Naima Efendi
About the instructor:
Ufuk Erol is a research associate at the Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG), a position held since 2024. He earned his Ph.D. in history from Indiana University Bloomington with a dissertation focusing on the formation of Qizilbash-Alevi Sufism, following a double major in history and sociology at Boğaziçi University. His research expertise spans the intersection of religion and politics in the Ottoman Empire and Iran, with a specific focus on Alevism, Shiism, and Ottoman socio-economic history. A published scholar in journals such as the Journal of Alevism-Bektashism Studies, Erol’s work examines provincial Alevi literature and the intellectual transformations of Middle Eastern communities in Europe. His teaching and research bring a deep, manuscript-based understanding to the history of Sufi orders and the evolution of religious identities from the 19th century to the present day.
Course Details
Schedule: Mondays, 22 June – 7 September 2026
Time: 9:00–10:00 AM (US Pacific), 12:00–1:00 PM (US Eastern), 6:00–7:00 PM (Central European)
Format: 12 online sessions
Tuition: $300 (payable in 3 installments)
Notes:
-
Class days and times may be adjusted in accordance with the request of enrollees.
-
Registered participants will receive full access to recorded session videos and all course materials.