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Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Module description

This module explores the cultural and social dimensions of everyday life in the Ottoman Empire during the early modern period (1450–1800). Moving beyond the political and military narratives centered on imperial elites, it focuses on the lived experiences of ordinary Ottoman subjects—Muslims, Christians, and Jews—and how they expressed and navigated their world through beliefs, practices, symbols, and material culture. Topics include popular religion and reform movements, social norms and the construction of social distinction, evolving patterns of consumption and sociability, gender and sexuality, festivals and public celebrations, slavery and mobility, supernatural beliefs, and the visual and architectural landscapes of Ottoman society. Through a diverse range of primary sources and interdisciplinary approaches, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the empire’s cultural complexity and its place in the early modern world.

Intended learning outcomes

• Demonstrate the ability to analyse a primary source and write a literature review, both of which will help them in writing their dissertations
• Develop a conceptual understanding of culture and historiographical knowledge of cultural history
• Critically analyse the cultural dynamics of the Ottoman Empire by examining its diverse ethnic, religious, and linguistic communities and their contributions to imperial identity and everyday life
• Evaluate primary and secondary sources related to Ottoman cultural production—including architecture, literature, material culture, and visual arts—to understand how culture reflected and shaped political and social structures