JSB057 History and Culture of the Balkans in the Ottoman Era

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Ladislav Hladký, CSc. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Ladislav Hladký, CSc. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Václav Štěpánek, Ph.D.
Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Pavel Pilch, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to introduce students to basic features of political and cultural development of the Ottoman Empire and Balkan ethnic groups in 15th - 18th century. Historical development of those parts of South-Eastern Europe that were not part of the Ottoman Empire is presented briefly during the lectures (Croatian parts of the Habsburg Monarchy, and areas of Republic of Venice, Republic of Ragusa and Montenegro).
Learning outcomes
Students will widen their knowledge in the area of European history by lesser-known facts about the influence of the Ottoman Empire on the greater part of the European continent in 15th - 18th century, and at the same time will understand the influence of the "Turkish danger" phenomenon in the back-then European course of events and thinking. Understanding the inner organization of the Ottoman Empire as well as the reasons and mechanisms of Islamization of the considerable part of the inhabitants of the Balkans and relations between individual confessions inside the Ottoman Empire. At the same time, they will be able to expertly understand cultural specifics and differences between individual confessions in the Balkans and - among other things - take a more tolerant stand towards supporters of Islam religion.
Syllabus
  • 1. Ottoman expansion in the Balkans in 15th and 16th century.
  • 2. Characteristics of Ottoman power (political, military and administrative system of Ottoman Empire, relations between confessions).
  • 3. Islamization of the part of inhabitants of the Balkans (forms of Islamization, religious institutions of Muslims, Islamic culture).
  • 4. Extensive migration in the Balkans in 15th - 18th century and its influence on ethnical mix in Southern and Central parts of South-Eastern Europe.
  • 5. Organization and role of Eastern Orthodox Church in the Balkans in 15th - 18th century.
  • 6. Catholics and Jews in the Ottoman Empire.
  • 7. Residues of tribal society in the Balkans, mainly in the Montenegro and Albania.
  • 8. Austrian-Turkish and Russo-Turkish wars and their reflection in the Balkans.
  • 9. Development in the Croatian parts of Habsburg Monarchy and areas under control of Republic of Venice.
  • 10. Specific development of the Republic of Ragusa and the Montenegro.
  • 11. Growing crisis of Ottoman Empire in the 18th century, Western European ideological and economic influence on the development of the Balkans.
Literature
    required literature
  • GOMBÁR, Eduard. Moderní dějiny islámských zemí. Vyd. 1. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, 1999, 427 s. ISBN 807184599X. info
  • Dějiny Jugoslávie. Edited by Václav Žáček - Veselin Starčević. Vyd. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1970, 513 s. URL info
    recommended literature
  • IHSANOGLU, Ekmeleddin (ed.). Historija osmanske države i civilizacije. Sarajevo: Orijentalni institut, 2004. 1233 s. ISBN 9958-626-05-5
  • PELIKÁN, Jan. Dějiny Srbska. 2., dopl. a rozš. vyd. Praha: NLN, Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2013, 677 s. ISBN 9788074222177. info
  • HRADEČNÝ, Pavel, Ladislav HLADKÝ, Virgjil MONARI, František ŠÍSTEK and Pavla HRADEČNÁ. Dějiny Albánie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2008, 716 s. ISBN 9788071069393. info
  • ŠESTÁK, Miroslav. Dějiny jihoslovanských zemí. Praha: Lidové noviny, 1998, 756 s. ISBN 8071062669. info
  • PALMER, Alan. Úpadek a pád Osmanské říše. Translated by Olga Kovářová - Martin Kovář. Vyd. 1. Praha: Panevropa, 1996, 351 s. ISBN 8085846055. info
Teaching methods
This course combines lectures and seminary parts. Students will prepare papers according to assignment for the seminars. Discussion about the papers will take place during the seminars.
Assessment methods
Requirements for granting the credit: Regular attendance on lectures, seminar paper, active participation during seminars, proving a satisfactory knowledge of the discussed topics during the final oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/JSB057