Tyler Kynn

Tyler Kynn is an Assistant Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University. His research focuses on the hajj in the early modern world, particularly examining Ottoman sovereignty, power dynamics, and identity formation in the Hijaz. He is a co-creator of The Hajj Trail, a digital simulation of the 17th-century hajj journey, and coordinates the Game Studies minor at CCSU. Kynn also serves as the campus advisor for the US State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship Program.

• PhD in History, Yale University (2020)
• MA in History, Central European University (2014)
• BA in History, University of Minnesota: Twin Cities (2012)

Kynn’s research bridges traditional historiography and digital methodologies. His current book project, A Season for Empire: The Hajj in the Early Modern World, analyzes the hajj as a lens for understanding Ottoman imperial control. He is also developing Seyahat: A Journey to Mecca, a digital game released on Steam, which builds on his work with The Hajj Trail. His scholarship intersects with digital history, gaming, and the study of early modern empires.

Kynn has presented at institutions like Stanford, Oxford, and Harvard through invited talks on topics including digital Ottoman studies and historical simulation. His work has been featured in The Economist and the Ottoman History Podcast. He teaches courses such as Gaming and History and The Ottomans: Islam and Empire, integrating his research into pedagogy via interactive tools.