Cihangir Gündoğdu

Cihangir Gündoğdu is an Assistant Professor of History at Istanbul Bilgi University. He holds a graduate degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago. His research focuses on Late Ottoman History, Social History, Turkish and Middle East Studies, Political Science, and Modern Turkey, with a particular interest in Animal History. He has conducted extensive work on Ottoman death registers, urbanization, and human-animal relations, including studies on dogs in the late Ottoman Empire and the role of animals in warfare. Gündoğdu is a co-founder of the Hayvanât-Animal History Network, promoting interdisciplinary research on non-human actors in history. His recent publications include analyses of Ottoman death records and the socio-political implications of animal management policies. He has also reviewed key works in Ottoman social and legal history, contributing to debates on institutional reforms and marginalized groups.

His work often intersects with themes of modernization, disciplinary institutions, and state formation, as seen in his studies on prisons, orphanages, and mental asylums. Gündoğdu’s research also explores lesser-known historical actors such as stray dogs and their roles in public health reforms. He has presented at international conferences, including the Turkologentag, discussing topics like the Ottoman Empire’s underbelly of capitalism and the socio-economic roles of animals in conflict scenarios. Despite no explicit mentions of awards or grants, his contributions to Animal History and Ottoman Studies highlight his academic leadership in these fields.