The Reign of Suleiman “The Magnificent”
Online Course
SNAPSHOT
Lecturer: Dr Lauren MacKay
Sessions: 3 x 90 minutes
Dates: 19, 26 April, 3 May, 2024
Times: Friday @ 2.00pm AEST
Group Size: Maximum of 15 screens
Price: $150 AUD
TWO WAYS TO WATCH
Can't make a date above? Don't worry... this course will be recorded, allowing you to watch each session at your convenience for up to 14 days. Simply sign up below and we'll send you a link on the first business day following each live session, ensuring you never miss a class!
Overview
Over the course of generations, the Ottomans rose from a small principality in the 13th century, outmanoeuvring their powerful neighbours to become one of the most famous empires of the Early Modern World, sending shockwaves through Christendom. For centuries, the Ottomans would be seen as a distant turbulence, menacing and enticing the courts of Europe.
But the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent saw a shift towards an intersection of culture amongst kingdoms, as Suleiman sought alliances with powerful European empires for the first time, changing the face of 16th century global politics. The language of power shifted from the sword to silk, as expansion and domination of the west pivoted to exchange, diplomacy, and trade.
In this three-part course, Dr Lauren Mackay explores the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent against the backdrop of 16th century Ottoman culture and foreign politics, examining the role the Ottoman Empire played in the Early Modern World, as well as Suleiman’s lingering legacy– parts of which are still felt today.
YOUR EXPERT LECTURER
Dr Lauren Mackay holds an MA and PhD in history and is an historian specialising in the Early Modern World. She is the author of three books, and her fourth, "Thunder Through the Realms: Five Kingdoms and the shaping of Early Modern Europe" is due out in early 2025 with Bloomsbury Publishing.
Lauren is a frequent presenter at historical venues around the UK and for the BBC History weekends and is a regular contributor for BBC History and All About History magazines. She has featured as a historical consultant for a number of television programs, including "Henry VIII and the King's Men" (Smithsonian Channel UK), “The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family” (BBC2) which drew on her PhD research, and “Blood, Sex, and Royalty” (Netflix). Lauren is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Session info
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We begin with a brief history of the Ottomans, from the myth of Osman to the siege of Constantinople, before exploring the formative years of Suleiman’s life, as his father, Selim the Grim, makes an audacious and violent bid for the Ottoman throne, propelling Suleiman from a young boy whose destiny seemed far from the Ottoman throne to Sultan of the empire.
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We follow Suleiman as he establishes himself as a powerful force to be reckoned with, delving into the personal aspects of his reign– his relationships, aesthetic tastes, and the Ottoman “Renaissance” Suleiman promoted, from literature and illustrated manuscripts, to magnificent architectural achievements and luxurious textiles and carpets, all coveted in the courts of Europe.
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In the last years of Suleiman’s reign, we explore ongoing Ottoman-European relations, as well the enmity between Suleiman and the other powerful Islamic empire of the east, the Safavid Persians, before delving into Suleiman’s legacy–a mixture of military achievements, a tangled game of inheritance, and an Empire which was feared and admired throughout the Early modern World.
Suggested Reading List
Bigelow Merriman, Roger: Suleiman the Magnificent 1520-1566 (Harvard University Press, 1944).
Clot, Andre: Suleiman the Magnificent (Saqi Books, 2012).
Howard, Douglas: A History of the Ottoman Empire (Cambridge University Press, 2017).
Julius Norwich, John: Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe (John Murray, 2016).
Booking
How it works
Our online courses are hosted live on Zoom, a free online education platform. If you don’t already have an account with Zoom, you will need to sign up at www.zoom.us. To join with video, you'll also need a device with a camera (such as a computer, phone or tablet with a webcam). Otherwise you can join with audio only.
An online ticket booking is required, made above. Each booking is for one computer screen use, not person. Our online booking system is powered by Stripe, with secure payment processing that accepts all major credit cards.
A confirmation of purchase will be sent to your email with a Zoom link to use for every session in this course, along with a reminder email sent 2 hours before each session.
When joining the Zoom meeting, you will enter a virtual ‘waiting room’. Please ensure that your Zoom screen name matches the name you booked under, so that the lecturer can admit you from the virtual ‘waiting room’ into each session. Your lecturer can help you troubleshoot any technical issues on the day.