Christopher Markiewicz

Prof. Dr. Christopher Markiewicz is a leading scholar in Ottoman and Islamic Studies at Ghent University's Department of Languages and Cultures (affiliated with the Department of History). He previously held positions as Associate Professor at University of Birmingham and Junior Research Fellow at Exeter College, University of Oxford. His research centers on the political, social, and intellectual history of the Ottoman Empire (15th-17th centuries), with special emphasis on state formation, diplomatic cultures, and the interplay between Islamic law and governance.

Education
• PhD in Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations, University of Chicago (2015)
• Magna cum laude dissertation award from Middle East Studies Association (2016)

His scholarship explores the transition from medieval Islamic political fragmentation to early modern imperial consolidation, focusing on how Persian émigrés shaped Ottoman sovereignty and diplomatic practices. Current research investigates pious endowments (waqf) through an ERC Starting Grant (2023-2028), analyzing their role in Ottoman state-building.

Scientific contributions include:

• Winner of Malcolm H. Kerr Dissertation Award (2016)
• Principal Investigator for Islamic Endowments project
• Series Editor for The Ottoman Empire and the World (I.B. Tauris)
• Trustee of EJW Gibb Memorial Trust
• Member of British Institute at Ankara committees

His 2023-2024 teaching includes courses on Middle East politics and global historical developments. Publications reveal evolving research from waqf taxation controversies to diplomatic gift-giving protocols, with consistent focus on cross-cultural exchange and historiographical evolution.