معرفی
Professor Betül Başaran is a scholar of Ottoman Empire history at St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM), specializing in social, economic, legal, and political transformations in majority Muslim societies. She holds dual appointments in History and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, integrating cross-cultural perspectives on the Muslim world, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Her research has been supported by prestigious fellowships including the Fulbright Global Scholar Award (2020-21) and National Endowment for the Humanities grants.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago (2006)
Research Interests: Professor Başaran examines Ottoman women’s agency, cross-cultural marriages, and transnational networks. Her current project focuses on Ottoman princesses Durrushehvar and Niloufer, exploring their roles as cultural ambassadors in 20th-century India. She also researches early modern Ottoman governance and social control, as seen in her book Selim III, Social Control, and Policing in Istanbul (2014).
Awards:
- Fulbright Global Scholar Award for research in India and London (2020-21)
- NEH Summer Seminar Grant to direct a 2016 seminar on Ottoman-Eurasian relations
- Folger Institute Fellowships (2018-19 and 2023-24)
Advising & Collaborations: Başaran has organized international conferences, including a 2016 NEH seminar for professors. Her Fulbright project includes collaborations with Jawaharlal Nehru University (India), SOAS (UK), and the Centre for Deccan Studies. She lectures widely, including at the Library of Congress and Folger Institute.
Labs/Teams: Engaged with transnational research networks, including partnerships with the American Research Institute in Turkey and the American Association of University Professors.
