James Baldwin

James Baldwin is a Lecturer in Empires of the Early Modern Muslim World at the Department of History, Royal Holloway, University of London. He specializes in the legal, social, and political history of the Ottoman Empire, particularly Egypt. His teaching includes courses on Ottoman history, Islamic law, and the modern Middle East.

• Education: PhD in History from New York University (2010)

Research Interests: Baldwin's work explores the intersection of Islamic law and political power in Ottoman Egypt, focusing on dispute resolution mechanisms like shari’a courts, petitioning systems, and elite factional violence. His first book, Islamic Law and Empire in Ottoman Cairo, examines how legal institutions connected Cairo to Istanbul. Current projects analyze litigation, land disputes, and wartime archival practices.

Articles Trends: His publications emphasize Ottoman legal pluralism, imperial governance challenges, and the socio-political role of judicial institutions. Recent works include studies of mediation practices, petitions to the sultan, and European-Ottoman interactions.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship
  • Humboldt Foundation Small Grant

Collaborative Activities: Baldwin edits Ottoman legal records for SHARIAsource (Harvard Law School) and contributes to the ERC project on Ottoman lawmaking. He engages in public outreach through lectures and school sessions on Islamic law and British Muslim society.