FREE Live Event: Rise of the Ottomans

with Dr. Ahmad Khan

In this live session, Dr. Ahmad Khan will introduce the Ottomans, who began their conquest of Egypt in the 11th Hijri century (16th Gregorian century).

The Ottoman Empire, though centered in the Middle East and southeastern Europe, had a significant global impact that extended far beyond its heartlands. With their origins in central Anatolia, the Ottomans extended their rule across much of North Africa, including Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, where they influenced local governance, trade routes, and, eventually, resistance to European colonialism. Their expansion into Europe shaped European politics for centuries and prompted major political alliances. 

Their control of the Silk Road, Mediterranean trade, coffee, and gunpowder also made them a main economic player in world history.

In addition to political events, the Ottomans greatly influenced the daily social, religious, and spiritual experiences of the areas they controlled. Their long tradition of scholarship, art, and architecture contributed to Islamic civilization and shaped many Muslim landscapes as we know them today.

Join Dr. Ahmad Khan as he speaks about the global impact that the Ottomans had, not just through its sultans, but important Ottoman women, bureaucrats, and global travelers like Katib Celebi, who was a remarkable polymath and bibliophile. His life and legacy are emblematic of the social, political, and intellectual richness of the Ottomans.

Dr. Ahmad Khan (DPhil, Oxon) is a professor of Islamic Studies at The American University in Cairo (AUC). His research focuses on classical Islamic thought and civilization (tafsir, hadith, law, and Sufism), and he has published two books and several articles on these topics. His current projects include a book on Quranic exegesis and critical editions of several Sufi texts.

Prior to joining AUC, he worked at Oxford and Hamburg universities, and in 2022 he was appointed the Arcapita visiting professor at Columbia University in New York. Alongside his academic work, he studies the traditional Islamic sciences with scholars in Egypt.

To find out more about this content, please register to the course: A History of Islamic Civilization in 14 Lives – Dr. Ahmad Khan