معرفی
Assoc. Prof. Fatma Aysel ILGIN serves at Istanbul University's Faculty of Literature, Department of General Turkish History, specializing in Byzantine-Turkish relations, Hunnic history, and Avar studies. Her academic work bridges Turkish historical narratives with broader Eurasian contexts.
Education:
- Doctorate (2012-2018): Istanbul University, Institute of Social Sciences, General Turkish History
- Postgraduate (2009-2012): Istanbul University, Institute of Social Sciences, General Turkish History
- Undergraduate (2005-2009): Istanbul University, Faculty of Literature, Philosophy
- Undergraduate Minor (2007-2009): Istanbul University, Faculty of Literature, History
Her research centers on pre-Islamic Turkic cultural heritage, with particular focus on European Hun military organization, Avar archaeological traces in Eastern Europe, and Byzantine sources on Turkic history. She examines how Turkic groups shaped medieval Eurasian geopolitics through military campaigns (e.g., Attila's Gallic expedition), cultural exchanges (e.g., Nibelungenlied references), and material legacies (e.g., Avar burial sites). Her methodology integrates textual analysis of Byzantine chronicles with archaeological findings from Hun and Avar territories.
Publications since 2014 reveal consistent exploration of Hun-Avar interactions with Germanic and Roman entities, emphasizing military strategy, cultural transmission, and historical memory in European literary traditions. Key themes include the Battle of Nedao's impact on Turkic tribal dynamics and German scholarly contributions to Hunnic studies.
Academic Service:
- Thesis advisor for 3 graduate students
- Peer reviewer for Türkiyat Mecmuası and İçtimaiyat journals
- Editor for multiple academic volumes including 'Tarihte İz Bırakan Kadınlarımız' (2022)
She leads 2 research projects and has presented findings at international conferences on economic history, Scandinavian trade routes, and Turkic maritime heritage. Her editorial work on 'Avarlar Avrupa'da 250 Yıllık Hakimiyetin İzleri' (2023) synthesizes archaeological evidence of Avar dominance in Eastern Europe.
