The Ottoman City between East and West: Aleppo, Izmir, and Istanbul

by Edhem Eldem, Daniel Goffman, Bruce Masters

Overview

In a pioneering reinterpretation, the authors challenge the orientalist perception of the Islamic city. By considering the histories of three Ottoman cities in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, they depart from the piecemeal methods of previous studies to emphasize the importance of these cities and to highlight their essentially Ottoman character. While the essays provide an overall view, each can be approached separately. Their exploration of the sources and the agendas of those who have conditioned our understanding of these cities will make them essential reading for students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521643047
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/11/1999
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.09(h) x 0.98(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction: was there an Ottoman city? 1. Aleppo: the Ottoman Empire's caravan city Bruce Masters; 2. Izmir: from village to colonial port city Daniel Goffman; 3. Istanbul: from imperial to peripheralized capital Edhem Eldem; Conclusion: contexts and characteristics; Works consulted; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Eldem offers fresh insights on the history of an understudied yet very important imperial capital...this collaborative effort succeeds in addressing key issues in the wider debate on the nature of 'Islamic' cities and the possibilities of cross-cultural and comparative urban studies. Hopefully, it will prepare the ground for comparatuve studies between the port cities of the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean world. This book is highly recommended for use both in the classroom and in scholarly studies on urban history." MESA Bulletin

"The authors are specialists on their respective cities but have effectively integrated their knowledge and theoretical approaches into a pleasing volume that will reward close reading." The Historian

"Through fine scholarship and impeccable writing, the authors present a delightful collection of essays." History

"This is an important contribution to the study of Ottoman History and the authors' essays indicate the rich possibilities that comparative history holds for the study of diverse early modern cities." Comparative Studies in Society and History

"...[the authors] provide an overarching picture that displays the dynamism of the urban process that Aleppo, Izmir, and Istanbul experienced in a comparative perspective.... the book is a valuable contribution to urban history and should enjoy an appeal beyond the scope of Ottoman studies." American Historical Review

"The book overall is a major contribution to Middle Eastern studies. It is a pioneering effort in urban comparative studies that sheds much light on the physical transformation of the Ottoman city across the centuries." Abdul-Karim Rafeq

From the Publisher