GLS 100 A Global City: Istanbul

Spring 2009 Q3 course

Instructor: Dr. Lisa Glidden

Wednesdays 3 – 4:30 [15 hours at Oswego, 30 hours in Istanbul)

Course Description:

Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey, a modern, secular, democratic, state, where the vast majority of the population is Muslim. Istanbul has been a global city for more than two thousand years. Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, it was the capital city of the Roman Empire from 330-395, the Byzantine Empire from 395 – 1204 and 1261 – 1453, and the Ottoman Empire from 1326 – 1923. The Ottomans successfully governed an ethnically and religiously diverse multicultural empire that ruled over Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Greek Orthodox communities in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.

This course provides an overview of the forces that shaped modern Turkey and an examination of current issues. We begin by learning about the historical empires. We continue with the successful process of nation-building after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. We will focus especially on contemporary issues of identity, the question of joining the European Union, and the head-scarf issue, that is, what role should the state play in ensuring secularism.

Required Readings

Kinzer, Stephan (2001) Crescent & Star: Turkey between Two Worlds

The Clash of Civilizations Debate – articles on Angel

Pamuk, Orhan (2005) Istanbul: Memories and the City OR Pamuk, Orhan (2007) Snow

Evaluation

Each student will choose a topic of interest related to Istanbul to focus on this quarter. The topic area is open, though I have several suggestions if you have trouble coming up with a topic. While we are in Oswego, you will do background research on the topic in preparation for the trip. Your background research will culminate in a research paper (4-6 for GLS students/8 – 10 pages for POL students) on the topic, due in class on March 4th. POL 300 students will also write a review of the clash of civilizations debate. While we are in Istanbul, you will continue your focus on this issue by keeping a journal or writing a blog about your observations and experiences (related to your topic) in Istanbul.

The following is a TENTATIVE schedule:

Course Schedule

Wednesday, 1/28 / Introduction and expectations; Constantinople à Istanbul
Wednesday, 2/4 / The Ottoman Empire / Readings:
Wednesday, 2/11 / Nation-building: Ataturk and the making of modern Turkey / Readings:
Wednesday, 2/18 / Turkey and the EU / Readings:
The Clash of Civilizations debate
Wednesday, 2/25 / Political identities and Political Islam / Readings:
Wednesday, 3/4 / Women, Feminism, and head scarves; Papers due in class / Readings:
Saturday, 3/7 / Depart for Istanbul
Sunday, 3/8 / AM Arrival in Istanbul / Lodging in Sultanahmet area
3pm Galata Mevlevihanesi (Whirling Dervishes performance)
Dinner at Rami or Sera
Monday, 3/9 / The Byzantine World
(Art, Architecture, and Politics) / Sites to visit:
·  Hagia Sofia (Church/Mosque/Museum)
·  Yerabatan Cistern
·  Hagia Eirene (Church/Mosque/Museum)
·  Archaeology Museum
Dinner
Tuesday, 3/10 / Ottoman Empire
(History, Islam, Art, and Architecture) / Sites to visit:
·  Blue Mosque
·  Topkapi Palace
·  Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
·  Boat tour of the Bosphorus
Wednesday, 3/11 / Foreigners and non-Muslims in the Empire
Ottoman Empire à Turkey / Sites to visit:
·  Grand Bazaar
·  Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar
·  Stroll through Galata to
·  Dolmabahce Palace
·  Stroll to Ortakoy
·  Return by ferry to Sultanahmet
Dinner at Hamdi et Lokantasi
Thursday, 3/12 / Campus Life in Turkey / ·  Visit to Sabanci University
·  Guest lecture, meet with Turkish students
Dinner
Friday, 3/13 / Modern Turkey / ·  Shopping district of Nisantasi
·  Taksim Square
Dinner at Haci Baba
Saturday, 3/14 / Return to Oswego