German Research Priority Programme:

Transottomanica: Eastern European-Ottoman-Persian Mobility Dynamics

18 docs and post-doc positions available

The Senate of the German Science Foundation (DFG) approved in March 2016 the establishment of the Research Priority Programme Transottomanica: Eastern European-Ottoman-Persian Mobility Dynamics (SPP 1981) for a duration of 6 years. Proposals for projects for the first funding period (2017-2020) of this priority programme shall be accepted until 28th of September 2016.

Applications have to be directed throught the online platform of the German Science Foundation (DFG). Applicants have to apply mentioning the research program SPP 1981 Transottomanica 

See the necessary forms for the application

Background:

Social and (trans)cultural ties between the Muscovite Tsardom and/or Petersburg Empire, Poland-Lithuania, the Ottoman Empire and Persia from the early modern period to the beginning of the twentieth century have so far not been the subject of systematic historical study. In the priority programme, we shall focus on the “trans-Ottoman” ties and communication practices which emerged as a consequence of mobility between these dominions and which until now have not been apparent in studies of individual regions or bilateral relations. This approach promises to change our understanding of globalised European and Asian history in a transcontinental context. Instead of constructing “one” new region, our “post-area studies” approach allows us to focus on several, different contexts and fields of social interaction with different spatial and social ranges unified by the lens of mobility: Reciprocal processes of migration, knowledge circulation (travelling concepts), travel, trade and mobility of entire societies between Muscovy and then the tsarist empire, Poland-Lithuania, the Ottoman Empire and Persia will be our focus. Proposals should utilise one of three methodological lenses, each of which allows a different perspective on the – in part – same phenomena:

1. Mobile Players,
2. Travelling Concepts,
3. Trade and Goods Through the ‘lens’ of mobility.

The thematic fields of ‘Travelling Concepts’, ‘Trade and Goods’ and ‘Mobile Players’ will be placed in a causal relationship. We define mobility as the interplay of social and spatial movements (flows) of persons and things (material and immaterial resources, ideas, knowledge, values) via exchange relationships within and between networks. The investigation period of the proposed priority programme shall begin in the early 16th century, when the Ottoman Empire developed into a cross-regional hub due to its expansion into northern and eastern Africa, its conquests in East Central Europe and to the extension of its power into the Near and Middle East. During the course of the 19^th century, however, this area was integrated into altered and/or new areas of communication and action because the major European powers were increasingly able to expand their political and economic influence. Due to its mobility dynamics and structures, the trans-Ottoman spatial configuration lost significance and merged into increasing global and nationalised contexts. The priority programme shall investigate these transitions until the beginning of the 20^th century.

For further information on “Transottomanica”, see “project description”