Between Empires and Borders: The Kurds in the Middle East

Details

01 Apr 2025

16:15 - 17:45

Seminar für Nahoststudien Seminarraum 105, Maiengasse 51

Öffentliche Veranstaltung, Gastvorlesung / Vortrag

public lecture by Dr. Metin Atmaca (Social Sciences University, Ankara)

he Kurds have long been at the crossroads of

empires, shaping and being shaped by the

histories of the Ottoman Empire, Iran, and the

broader Middle East. This talk explores their

evolving role—between autonomy and

centralization, resistance and adaptation—

within shifting imperial and national

frameworks. By tracing key historical moments

and movements, it sheds light on how Kurdish

communities navigated political, cultural, and

religious transformations. Understanding their

place in history offers a deeper perspective on

modern Kurdish dynamics in the region.

Metin Atmaca is a Professor of History at the

Social Sciences University of Ankara, specializing

in the modern history of the Kurds in the

Ottoman Empire and Iran. His research has

appeared in leading publications, including The

Cambridge History of the Kurds, Oxford

Bibliographies Online, Middle Eastern Studies,

Journal of World History, and Kurdish Studies

Journal. He is also the editor-in-chief of the

forthcoming Encyclopaedia of the Kurds, a multi-

volume work that explores the rich history,

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