Christe A. McMenomy and Karl Oles for Scholars Online
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Please read the discussion of power. We will go over it briefly in class. Most will probably remember it from last year.
5: Wed, Sep 18, 2024
Ottoman art and architecture shows the aesthetic influence of the Safavid Persians and (after the conquest of Constantinople) the Greek Byzantines (and in particular the Hagia Sophia). The Ottoman style in architecture was established by the many building projects of the military engineer and chief architect of Süleyman the Magnificant, Mimar Sinan.
Look up photographs of the interiors and exteriors of the mosques of Sinan's that are mentioned in the textbook (the Selimiye Mosque at Edirne, the Shehzade mosque at Istanbul, and the Süleymaniye in Istanbul). You may find pictures of broader building contexts (külliye) including schools, soup kitchens, hospitals, and bathhouses.
Then look up the Topkapı Palace (built by Sinan as the "New Palace" and later updated and maintained over centuries).
Thinking about the discussions we've had in previous classes, take some notes on what these building projects show us about Ottoman resources, power, and community. What stands out to you? What kinds of resources went into producing these buildings? What kinds of power do they assert or accommodate? How do they serve their communities? Include links to any specific photos you discuss or external resources you refer to.
Read through the following selections on the nature of human reason and knowledge. What factors do these thinkers identify as affecting our ability to observe natural and human events? What factors affect our ability to reason clearly? Can we ever prove a scientific principle based on observation with complete certainty? If not, what things or principles can be known and trusted?
Along with your notes, be sure to include any questions that you have.
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