PEM 609E - Ottoman Landscapes in Comparative Perspective

Course Objectives

This graduate course is designed to provide a framework for situating Ottoman gardens, cultural and urban landscapes in a transnational context. Recognizing the historicity of the Ottoman Empire and understanding its role as a significant –yet not singular– agent in the global sociopolitical arena, help us to attain a broader and comparable understanding of the era from the 14th to the 20th century.
This course is based on academic readings and in-class discussions. Students are expected to read two assigned articles each week. One of the goals of the course is to improve critical reading skills to grasp, present, and discuss the main arguments of the articles.

Course Description

This graduate course is designed to provide a framework for situating Ottoman gardens, cultural and urban landscapes in a transnational context. Loosely following a chronological outline, this course hopes to bring historical and theoretical sources together and to provoke lively discussions on cultural, intellectual, architectural transitions and interactions between Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and across the Mediterranean.