Mimar Sinan
1489-1588
"... her küngüre-‘i eyvāndan bir gūşe ve her zāviye-‘i virāndan bir tūşe peydā eyleyūp ... "
"I saw the monuments, the great ancient remains. From every ruin I learned, from every building I absorbed something."
Welcome to the Centre for Ottoman Renaissance and Civilisation (CORC). Our aim is to provide research to promote the global nature of the Renaissance. CORC aims to provide a forum for the study of the Renaissance in a global context with added focus on the distinctive features of the Ottoman Renaissance and its affiliations with the Greco-Roman tradition and the Islamic East. It encourages interdisciplinary studies of the early modern Mediterranean world that are cross-national and comparative to encourage interaction among academics from relevant and various traditions of learning.
Rethinking the Renaissance
We have been enthusiastic in our praise of Italy, a country that at the end of the fifteenth century resurrected the art of ancient Rome after this achievement had lain dormant for over a thousand years. During the same period, however, buildings were erected on the Bosphorus that have been belittled for the simple reason that they were replicas of Hagia Sophia. Yet it is no less a renaissance of astounding individuality that sprang up from the soil made fertile by the spirit of ancient Greece. The revival of ancient perceptions of shape and form occurred here with the same freedom, independence, and boldness, with the same artistic and creative force, that was shaping the culture on the opposite shores of the Adriatic Sea.
Cornelius Gurlitt (1850-1938)
Rethinking the Renaissance
The Renaissance is usually associated with the Italian city states like Florence, but Italy’s undoubted importance has too often overshadowed the development of new ideas in northern Europe, the Iberian peninsula, the Islamic world, south-east Asia, and Africa. In offering a more global perspective on the nature of the Renaissance, it would be more accurate to refer to a series of ‘Renaissances’ throughout these regions, each with their own highly specific and separate characteristics. These other Renaissances often overlapped and exchanged influences with the more classical and traditionally understood Renaissance centred on Italy. The Renaissance was a remarkably international, fluid, and mobile phenomenon.
Jerry Brotton, The Renaissance: A Very Short Introduction
Rethinking the Renaissance
Of all the ‘Western’ scientific breakthroughs … few would have been possible without earlier Arab, Persian, Central Asian, Indian, Chinese or Greek developments. Even as late as eighteenth century, it was the Ottomans who introduced the practice of inoculation against disease into Europe, one of the most fundamental ‘Western’ breakthroughs that underpins world medicine today that is frequently cited as one of the pillars of Westernisation. After all, where would Galileo be without Ulugh Beg? Vasco da Gama without Ibn Majid? The Italian Renaissance without Umayyad Cordoba? The Greek Classics without Baghdad translation school? Western medicine without Avicenna? … The point is, there is neither a ‘them’ nor an ‘us’: we are all the products of both … that the definition of ‘Europe’ be constitutionally enshrined as non-Muslim, or at least non-Turkish – and by extension a Christian union. This not only ignores that two of the great periods of European civilisation – Constantinople in the age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and the Andalusia in the age of Caliph Abd ar-Rahman III – were Muslim … [I]t is essential to emphasise the positive aspects of Ottoman civilisation here so as to gain a balanced view of the Turks as part of the complex and varied civilisation of Europe as a whole, and to banish forever the negative idea of the Turks as the ‘other’, beyond the pale of anything bearing the label of ‘Europe’. Even though history may not have paused for breath (it never does), at this point it seems appropriate that we at least do, and assess some of the Ottoman achievements.
Warwick Ball
Publications
The book re-evaluates Ottoman art of the early modern period within the Renaissance paradigm. It argues that the Ottomans indeed had a Renaissance at the same time as the Europeans of the West and that, whilst sharing certain characteristics, the Ottomans experience a Renaissance distinct to their European counterparts. In addition to the influences of classical Greece and Rome, Metin Mustafa argues that the Ottomans drew on their Eastern past – their Steppe heritage, Islamic, Timurid and Persian influences, marking a significant divergence with the West. By casting the net wide and clearly demonstrating the vast range of traditions, which inspired the grand cultural phenomenon of the early modern Ottoman period, he uniquely situates the Ottoman Renaissance in a more meaningful historical context. East and West were fundamental to the Ottoman mindset and this is what is emphasized in the book.
“This book is distinctive for the directness with which it addresses its subject. While earlier of Ottoman art and architecture have gestured toward connections with the Renaissance, these connections are presented here in a lucid and systematic way that will engender considerable discussion, inviting a general re-evaluation of what we mean by ‘The Renaissance’.”
Giancarlo Casale, Professor of Early Modern History of the Mediterranean, University of Minnesota and author of The Ottoman Age of Exploration.
Latest Release
In an age defined by the relentless noise of digital distraction and the rapid fragmentation of traditional knowledge, the human capacity for deep, analytical thought—and spiritual anchoring—is under siege. The Crisis of Intellect and the Erosion of Quranic Guidance offers a sobering, essential examination of the contemporary decline in critical inquiry within the Muslim intellectual landscape. Far from a mere cultural critique, this work explores the profound psychological and spiritual consequences that follow when the intellect is detached from its moral and metaphysical foundations. The book navigates the tension between modernity and tradition, arguing that the abandonment of the Quranic framework for reason has led to an "intellectual vacuum." Crucially, this book brings into sharp focus the Ankara School’s ambitious efforts to restore vitality to Islamic thought. By engaging deeply with the contributions of prominent scholars such as Yaşar Nuri Öztürk and Bayraktar Bayraklı, the text highlights their dedication to purifying the faith from centuries of dogma and reclaiming the Quran as the primary, liberating source of intellectual life. This book serves as a clarion call for a comprehensive intellectual revival of Islamic Thought, urging readers to move beyond reactionary responses in favour of reclaiming proactive, principle-based thought. It emphasises the urgent need for a reintegration of wisdom and reason, illustrating how the Quranic paradigm can once again serve as both the map and the compass for the human mind. Furthermore, the work offers a vital historical synthesis by evaluating the legacy of the Ankara School as a necessary step toward overcoming modern intellectual stagnation. Ultimately, it provides a clear path forward, outlining practical strategies for navigating the complexities of the 21st century without sacrificing one’s moral and intellectual integrity.
Documentaries
The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent
Produced by Centre for Ottoman Renaissance and Civilisation
Narrated by Dr Metin Mustafa
Continuing Education Courses
in Islamic & Ottoman History
Centre for Ottoman Renaissance and Civilisation courses developed and presented by Dr Metin Mustafa
