This course will look at the Ottoman and Russian reform periods from around the 1830s until the collapse of both empires after World War I. Through the critical reading of theories of nationalism and empire, we will examine the policies of the Ottoman and Russian imperial authorities developing in response to the proliferating nations in Europe and to the challenges imposed by the growing sense of nationalism among their imperial subjects. In this context, we will explore the various factors which led to the collapse of these once mighty empires. Topics to be discussed will include the Ottoman and Russian reforms, revolutions and constitutions, the policies of Ottomanization and Russification, as well as the implications of these events on imperial subjects. To understand these implications, among others, we will look more closely at the experiences of the Armenians, who lived in the Ottoman-Russian borderlands.

Intended Audience:

Upper level undergraduate

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly