Coffee and Culture in the Ottoman Empire
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Date
2024
Authors
Dobson, Maggie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Have you ever wondered why we drink coffee? The historical answer to that question lies in the coffeehouses of the Ottoman Empire. Coffee, native to Ethiopia, spread throughout the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century and quickly became a mainstay of Ottoman culture. Recent scholarship on the topic has blown open traditional stereotypes and European metrics for understanding modernity in the Ottoman Empire. This project continues that trend by raising awareness and arguing for a shift away from Eurocentrism when studying the history of the Ottoman Empire.
This project explores the complexities of Ottoman coffee culture through research represented by a digital exhibit. The online exhibit, built on extensive historiographical research, challenges the traditional thesis format by being both educational and accessible to a wider audience. Viewers can learn about the history of Ottoman coffeehouses in a curated and self-guided digital environment. Public perception of the Ottoman Empire is often limited to misconceptions and stereotypical depictions of the Middle East, but public history projects like this one can help us connect with history and learn more about ourselves.
Click the link here to access the digital exhibit: https://sites.google.com/view/ottomancoffeethesis/home
Description
61 pages
Keywords
Ottoman Empire, Coffeehouses, Coffee, Food Studies, Material Culture