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History 739 Topics in Near Eastern and World History

History 739 Topics in Near Eastern and World History. Dr. John Curry john.curry@unlv.edu http://faculty.unlv.edu/curryj5 Room B-326 (History Conference Room) Class meets : 4:30-7:30pm Office Hours : Tuesday 2:30-4:00pm. Background for Giancarlo Casale’s Ottoman Age of Exploration.

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History 739 Topics in Near Eastern and World History

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  1. History 739Topics in Near Eastern and World History Dr. John Curry john.curry@unlv.edu http://faculty.unlv.edu/curryj5 Room B-326 (History Conference Room) Class meets: 4:30-7:30pm Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30-4:00pm

  2. Background for Giancarlo Casale’sOttoman Age of Exploration Ph.D. at Harvard under the direction of CemalKafadar and ShinasiTekin Takes position at University of Minnesota in 2005 Named McKnight Land Grant professor in 2009 Work is product of research dating back to 2000; emerges out of dissertation

  3. The Portuguese voyages of discovery in the 15th century

  4. Early Portuguese portolan chart of the Indian Ocean (1519)

  5. Portuguese empire by the end of the sixteenth century

  6. Ottoman expansion up to the seventeenth century

  7. Map of Indian Ocean made in the seventeenth century

  8. Discussion of Casale (not to be limited to points below) How does Casale seek to draw in the reader, and what elements of the historical narrative does he seek to challenge with this work? How does Casale’s work relate to some of the other works we have examined to date? What types of evidence does Casale advance to make his case—and is it convincing? How does the book attempt to appeal to a non-specialist audience? Pros and cons of approach?

  9. Innovative elements in Casale’sAge of Exploration Links together histories of Age of Exploration with those of global history movement In a different manner, Casale up-ends narrative of Ottomans as hapless defenders Linkage of events to Ottoman internal politics Argues that both the Portuguese and the Ottomans met defeat in their quest for power The question of “chaos theory”—alternative outcomes possible in various situations

  10. Chronologies for comparison in Casale’s work A chronology not based on rulers, but still relies on personalities 1453-1520 (Mehmet II through Selim I) 1520-1536 (Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha) 1536-1546 (Grand Vizier HadimSuleyman) 1546-1561 (Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha) 1561-1579 (Grand Vizier Sokollu Pasha) 1579-1589 (Grand Vizier KojaSinan Pasha) 1589-1636 (“Death of Politics”)

  11. Comparison chronology for Portuguese expansion A chronology based on turning points? 1139-1415 (Reconquista in Andalusia) 1415-1445 (Initial N. African exploration) 1445-1494 (West Africa to Tordesillas) 1494-1515 (Emporial conquests to Malacca) 1515-1542 (Consolidation, reaches Japan) 1542-1580 (Height of Portuguese power) 1580-1640 (Decline and collapse)

  12. Issues of chronology: why technology matters Shifts in naval technology: the caravel/carrack vs. traditional Mediterranean galley Historians have assumed teleology of superseding galley Naval Battle of Lepanto (1571) Casale’sproblematization: why do Ottomans keep using it? Issues of environment, tactics

  13. Debating views on the question of Ottoman “decline” Old view: Ottoman state loses vigor with shift away from warrior-rulers like Mehmet II Challenge: grand viziers are really the key actors from the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent Old view: Ottomans sink into decline after the Suleymanic “golden age” Challenge: Ottomans do not so much decline as shift their priorities to deal with new crises Casale: falls somewhere in between, ambiguous

  14. A critical question: adding color and liveliness to an account Interesting events: the Zimba invasion in Africa (JWH article) Interesting people: how to document shadowy figures like SeferRe’is, Mir Ali Beg, etc.? Extrapolating a grand Ottoman strategy from disconnected and (often) ill-documented events? Power of cross-cultural source reading; few read Ottoman!

  15. Controversial conclusion? Ottoman geographical knowledge Places both Portugal and Ottomans in similar position; connect to Hess? Shift from state-directed imperial project to private mercantile ones Indian Ocean as a product of Ottoman “success?” What has been left out: KatipChelebi’sCihannuma (partially) produced in 1655

  16. Issues of immediate concern for the future Richard Bulliet book will be on the docket for September 30 class (following Thursday) October classes will focus on the writing process; be prepared to present at least two pages of writing for evaluation to the class (more details forthcoming next Thursday) November 4: status report going into final phase November classes on the 11th, 18th, and 25th will be cancelled for holidays Presentations on Dec. 2, final paper on Dec. 9

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