In the first half of 2025, in addition to the Library Talks and Library Community Lectures, the library hosted three different book launch events. In December 16, the fourth event in the series will feature the launch of former ANAMED Director Prof. Scott Redford’s new book, Kinet Höyük 7: The Medieval Period, Parts I and II: Bilkent University Excavations at Kinet Höyük, Hatay, Turkey.
Anatolian Livestock Trade in the Late Ottoman Empire
At the first book launch meeting, held on February 14, our guests, Koç University faculty members Can Nacar and Yonca Köksal, each gave a presentation about the book, moderated by Faisal Husain.
Anatolian Livestock Trade in the Late Ottoman Empire analyzes the expansion of the Anatolian livestock trade during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries— a period marked by significant changes in politics, society and environment. It examines the impact of these changes on both human and non-human actors, maps trade routes and networks, and explores their transformations over time, thereby contributing to the literature on Ottoman environmental and socioeconomic history.
A printed copy of the book is available at the ANAMED Library.
Religious Buildings Made in Byzantium: Old Monuments, New Interpretations
At the second book launch meeting, held on February 27, our speakers Bilge Ar, Fotini Kondyli, Ivana Jevtic, Mareva U, Nikos D. Kontogiannis, and Nebojša Stanković each gave a talk on different chapters of the book, moderated by Günder Varinlioğlu.
Religious Buildings Made in Byzantium Old Monuments, New Interpretations emerged from the collaborative effort of scholars aiming to rethink Byzantine religious architecture in light of recent political, social, and academic developments. Initially sparked by a conversation in Istanbul, the project took shape through virtual workshops in 2020–2021 where participants explored new methodological approaches to studying Byzantine churches. Building on the foundational work of scholars like Slobodan Ćurčić and Robert Ousterhout, this collection addresses critical questions about the definition of a “Byzantine church” and how it fits into a broader cultural and historical context. By integrating diverse perspectives, such as material culture, ritual practices, and sensory experiences, the volume seeks to offer a holistic understanding of Byzantine architecture as a living tradition. It challenges older, Constantinople-centered narratives by examining the dynamic interactions between different regions and the sociopolitical environments that shaped their religious buildings. Ultimately, the volume advocates for a more nuanced and interdisciplinary approach to the study of Byzantine architecture, one that recognizes its global connections and its evolving significance.
A printed copy of the book is available at the ANAMED Library.
Histories of Political Thought in the Ottoman World
On June 20, at the third book launch meeting, guests Nedim Nomer, Başak Tuğ, and Abdurrahman Atçıl provided insights into the details of the book.
This book is intended to provide a survey of the history of political ideas in the Ottoman world from its dawn around 1300 to its downfall in the early 20th century. It features 14 original papers by some of the most prominent and innovative scholars of Ottoman history. The book sheds light on the complex role that ideas have played in all aspects of Ottoman social and political life throughout the history of the Ottoman world across time, space, social class, and ethnic and religious identity.
A printed copy is available at the ANAMED Library.
Kinet Höyük 7: The Medieval Period, Parts I and II: Bilkent University Excavations at Kinet Höyük, Hatay, Turkey
In the final book launch event of the year, Prof. Scott Redford will meet readers at the ANAMED Library on December 16 to present his new book.
This book presents the final report on Medieval period excavations at Kinet Höyük in Hatay province, southern Turkey. The region was contested between the Crusader Principality of Antioch, the Knights Templar, the Kingdom of Armenian Cilicia, and the Mamluk Sultanate. Sources from this period mention Medieval Kinet (Arabic al-Tina, Latin Canamella) as a port exporting timber from the nearby Amanos Mountains. Four habitation levels spanned the mid-12th to early 14th centuries: three of them ending in conflagration and destruction. Its location on the Mediterranean and the main road between Anatolia and Northern Syria led to the recovery of ceramics, coins, and other objects from around the eastern Mediterranean, inland Syria, and beyond. The combination of its stratigraphic excavation and careful analyses of a wide range of materials and objects affords rare insights into economy, settlement, warfare, and many other aspects of life in this region at the time of the Crusades.
A printed copy will be available at the ANAMED Library soon!
