Advanced Historical Literature

Religious Communities and the Early Modern Ottoman State

Beginning with the confessionalisation debate, this seminar will examine how the Ottoman state dealt with a variety of religious communities that resided in its territories in the period 1500-1850. Rather than restrict ourselves to reified categories such as millet, Sufi order, or sect, we will use the recent historiography about a variety of groups that defy easy description to rethink Ottoman religious policy and practice. These communities include Alevis/Betashis, Nusayri-Alawis, Donmes, Christian converts to Islam, and others, including the Ottoman learned establishment. This course will be of interest to students of early modern religion, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, and secularization.