Young historians discuss history as a science from multiple perspectives

The 1st National Undergraduate Student Symposium was held in cooperation with Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of History and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. At the symposium, attended by students from different universities, the importance of history as a science, its relationship with current developments, and its interdisciplinary structure were discussed. During the opening speeches, the role of historical knowledge in making sound analyses was highlighted, and the importance of archives, a multidimensional perspective, and the necessity of objective historical writing were emphasized. Throughout the two-day program, sessions were held on many different topics, from maritime history to the Ottoman Empire, from belief and mythology to modern era analyses. It is aimed that the symposium, in which students played an active role, will become a traditional platform contributing to academic development.  

Many academicians and students, including Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Durmuş Çaylı, Head of Youth Services Branch of Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, Dr. Meliha Nur Çerçinli, President of the Turkish Archivists Association, Prof. Hadiye Yılmaz, Head of the History Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Adem Büyükyiğit, President of the History Club, attended the symposium. 

At the symposium, attended by students from different universities, the importance of history as a science, its relationship with different disciplines, and its effects on the present day were discussed.

Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak: “Today we see how important history is”

Prof. Deniz Ülke Kaynak, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, who made the opening speech of the program, said; “As someone who believes that the field of international relations should be analyzed from a historical perspective, I can say that history is one of the social science disciplines I value most. Today, we also clearly see how important history is. In these war conditions we live in and in some political decisions taken, it is clear how effective historical ignorance is. Today, we see more clearly what significant consequences the inability to grasp how thousands of years of events can affect the present, in situations where some people do not know what the Persian Empire means, and are unaware of the Karbala Incident and the national identity building processes created by Karbala, can have on our lives.”

“It is not possible to make sound analyses without knowing the historical background”

Underlining that history is an extremely important field, Kaynak said; “We see many people involved in politics. When they are unaware of history, they can use expressions like 'we solved Syria's thousand-year problem.' However, it is not possible to make sound analyses without knowing how regions such as Syria, Iraq, and Iran were shaped, how they were governed during the Ottoman Empire period, and what transformations they underwent during the mandate administration process. Without this historical background, you cannot correctly calculate the resistance power of the other side and the dynamics on which this power is based. When a war assessment is made on paper, conclusions such as 'it has so many tanks, so many cannons, nuclear weapons, it will last at most three days' can be drawn. But reality does not work like this. The main factor determining the outcome of a war is not only military capabilities but also the endurance of the parties. Therefore, history is an extremely important field. The past is not merely the perspective we see today. A true historian must examine the different dimensions of the past from various viewpoints. Secondly, if you want to be a historian, you must distance yourself as much as possible from your ideologies, the baggage imposed on you by your national, religious, and ethnic identity, your personal traumas, and individual experiences. Otherwise, history becomes your own official history. Remember, what we call the past is a boundless ocean. The past and history are not the same thing. History is formed by the inclusion of subjectivity, ideology, and political aims into this vast past.”

The relationship between history and current developments was highlighted

Durmuş Çaylı, Head of Youth Services Branch of Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, emphasized the importance of social sciences in his speech; “The increase in studies in the field of social sciences in our universities is very valuable. We appreciate and follow Üsküdar University’s projects in this field.”

Çaylı also drew attention to the relationship between history and current developments, stating that the events experienced would be evaluated as historical data in the future.

Dr. Meliha Nur Çerçinli: “Cross-referencing is of great importance in reaching sound conclusions”

Dr. Meliha Nur Çerçinli, President of the Turkish Archivists Association, emphasized the role of archives in historical research. Çerçinli said; “Archives are not just document repositories, but also memory centers. They must be evaluated together with different sources in historical studies.”
Touching upon the importance of correctly interpreting archives, Çerçinli stated; “Making cross-readings without relying on a single source is of great importance in reaching sound conclusions.”

Prof. Hadiye Yılmaz: “It is possible to understand the reality of the period from different perspectives”

Prof. Hadiye Yılmaz, Head of the History Department of Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, drew attention to the challenges of history as a science in her speech; “Reaching the objective reality of the past is not always easy. However, it is possible to understand the reality of the period from different perspectives.”

Yılmaz also emphasized the importance of involving students in the active learning process; “Our students organizing this symposium is a very valuable experience for their academic development.” she said.

The event aims to become traditional…

Adem Büyükyiğit, President of the Üsküdar University History Club, who played an active role in organizing the symposium, stated that the event is an important step for students. Büyükyiğit said, “This symposium is not just an event, but also the beginning of an academic platform.”

Stating that the symposium, held after months of preparation, was a great source of pride for them, Büyükyiğit said that they aim for the event to become traditional in the coming years.

History as a science was discussed on many different topics

Following the opening speeches, the first session was held under the title “Segments from Turkish Maritime History.” 

In the session moderated by Dr. Buğra Can Bayçifci, Soner Can Çetinkaya from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University discussed “A Strategic Turning Point in Turkish Maritime History: Çaka Bey and the Tactical Analysis of the 1090 Koyun Adaları Battle,” Taha Güleryüz from Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University discussed “The Ottoman Empire on the Danube Line: Castle-Navy Cooperation,” and Emre Sağıroğlu from Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University discussed “A Historical Look at the Accidents of the Turkish Naval Forces: The Dumlupınar Disaster Example.” 

The second session of the program started under the title “Religion, Politics, Belief, and Mythology.”

The session was chaired by Prof. Hadiye Yılmaz, Head of the History Department. Nühsal Türk from Mardin Artuklu University discussed “Belief and Mythology in the Context of Oral History among Yazidis,” Ahmet Tanrıverdi from Üsküdar University discussed “Power and Secrecy in 18th Century England: A Political Analysis Through the Hellfire Club,” Sude Naz Yapılcan from Aksaray University discussed “A Ceremony from Palaces to Streets: Reflection of the Surre-i Hümâyûn during the Reign of Abdülhamid II in the Ottoman Press,” Fatma Beyhan Fıstık from Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University discussed “The Battle of Selman-i Pak During World War I,” and Eren Mermer from Kayseri Erciyes University discussed “The 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the Drama of Palestinian Refugees.”
The third session started under the title “Identity, Symbol, and Public Sphere in Turkish History.” The session was chaired by Dr. Ozan Eren Üçgül.

Within the scope of the session, Ahsen Özgül from Erciyes University spoke on “Turkic-Oghuz Tamgas: Aesthetics and Memory,” Çiğdem Ermiş from Mardin Artuklu University spoke on “The Golden Horde State During the Reign of Batu Khan,” and Hüseyin Kaan Han from Trakya University spoke on “The 'Mahfil' Example in Turkish Intellectual Life: Marmara Kıraathanesi.”

The program continued for two days

The program started with the fourth session. The session, which began under the title “Crisis and Reconstruction in Early Modern Ottoman,” was moderated by Dr. Özgün Deniz Yoldaşlar.

Zümrüt Anka Kahraman from Üsküdar University discussed “The Language of the Throne and Traces of Identity: A Psychohistorical Comparison of Hatt-ı Hümayuns on White During the Reigns of Ahmed I and Murad IV,” Eda Günenç from Üsküdar University discussed “The Kadızadeliler Movement in 17th Century Ottoman Empire: A Re-evaluation of Normative Restructuring from a Religious Sociology Perspective,” and Emirhan Kayhan and  Samet Akgül from Üsküdar University discussed “The Rise of the Ayan in the Early Modern Ottoman Provinces: Center-Periphery Dynamics in the Context of Military Revolution, State Formation, and Multiple Modernities.”

The fifth and final session of the program, titled “Instruments of Power and Legitimacy Throughout History: Societies, Rituals, Wars,” was moderated by Dr. Uygar Aydemir. 

Ahmet Tanrıverdi from Üsküdar University spoke on “Power and Secrecy in 18th Century England: A Political Analysis Through the Hellfire Club,” Sude Naz Yapılcan from Aksaray University spoke on “A Ceremony from Palaces to Streets: Reflection of the Surre-i Hümayuns during the Reign of Abdülhamid II in the Ottoman Press,” and Fatma Beyhan Fıstık from Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University spoke on “The Battle of Selman-i Pak During World War I.” 

The program concluded after the presentation of certificates and a general evaluation.