About Us

Due to the richness of their content, calendars, which constitute an important part of Ottoman scientific literature, are valuable sources for many fields such as the history of science, Ottoman intellectual history, daily life history, religious history, art history, medical history, environmental history, natural history, and folklore. In this respect, calendars have become appealing sources for researchers focusing on understanding Ottoman culture and cognitive practices, emphasizing contextualization and interdisciplinary approaches. However, the comparative study of the theoretical and practical aspects of calendars over long periods has been a neglected topic in the history of science. From this perspective, our project titled “A Comparative Study on the Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Scientific Activity in the Ottoman Empire: Annual and Perpetual Calendars (1550-1710)” was initiated to shed light on the scientific/knowledge understanding reflected in these calendars, to determine the relationship between the preparer and the user of the calendar, and to explore the place of calendars in the historiography of science. As part of the project, we established this page for the workshop we held on March 21, 2022. Now, aiming to highlight the relationship between Ottoman calendars and their contents without limiting them to a specific period, we intend to share studies, including various types of calendars from different cultures, with individuals interested in or researching this topic. Furthermore, we plan to extend beyond this topic on our page by featuring other research we conduct on Ottoman astronomy history.

In this context, we aim to promote ongoing and past studies on Ottoman astronomy history beyond our own research on our page. We also strive to announce symposiums, conferences, discussions, and other events related to this field to the extent possible.

Gaye Danışan (editor)
Solmaz Ceren Özdemir (webmaster)