INTERNATIONAL HAGIA SOPHIA SYMPOSIUM – III

ISTANBUL DURING THE REIGN OF SULTAN MEHMED THE CONQUEROR: CONSTRUCTION AND HOUSING

May 29-30, 2025

Throughout history, cities have not merely been geographical locations but the most concrete expressions of civilizations; empires and societies have established their presence in these urban spaces. In this context, with its deep-rooted history stretching from Rome to Byzantium and ultimately to the Ottomans, Istanbul stands out as a global city reflecting the social, cultural, and architectural dynamics of each era. However, the most significant transformation in Istanbul’s history undoubtedly occurred with Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's conquest in 1453. This conquest was not only a political victory but also the beginning of a grand civilizational vision.

By making Istanbul the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror granted the city a new identity; he reconstructed this ancient city with both Islamic values and a universal imperial vision. The refunctionalization of structures inherited from Rome and Byzantium, the shaping of the city's demographic composition, and its transformation into a cosmopolitan center were fundamental aspects of this period. The systematic construction and housing policies implemented by the Conqueror, deeply influenced both the physical and social fabric of the Ottoman capital, turning it into the heart of a global civilization.

This symposium aims to discuss the construction and housing policies in Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the transformations that occurred after the conquest and the cultural and architectural heritage inherited from Rome to the Ottomans. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the symposium will focus on Istanbul’s reconstruction process during this period from historical, architectural, social, and philosophical perspectives.

SYMPOSIUM THEME

"Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's​ Istanbul: A World Capital Reconstructed"

This theme seeks to examine the construction and housing activities during Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's reign, one of the most significant transformations in Istanbul’s history, along with their impacts on the city’s spatial, social, and cultural structure.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

Transformation Following the Conquest: The Ottoman Vision for Istanbul

• Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's vision for rebuilding Istanbul.
• The Ottoman Empire’s capital city strategy.

Roman and Byzantine Heritage: Refunctionalization and Transformation

• The new uses of Roman and Byzantine structures during the Ottoman period.
• Architectural continuity and interruption from Byzantium to the Ottomans.

Development Policies: Constructing a New Capital

• Complexes and mosques built during Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's reign.
• Civil architectural structures.
• The construction of the Grand Bazaar and commercial centers.
• The restructuring of the Golden Horn and harbor areas.
• Comparing Istanbul’s urban and architectural development with other world cities.
• Architectural aesthetics during Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror's reign.

Housing Policies: Foundations of a Cosmopolitan City

• Population transfers and compulsory settlement policies.
• The resettlement of non-Muslim communities.
• The formation of Istanbul’s cosmopolitan structure.
• New neighborhoods and social organization.
• Interfaith and interethnic relations.

Religious and Spiritual Transformation of Istanbul

• The religious dimension of converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
• Eyüp Sultan Mosque and other religious structures.

IMPORTANT DATES

Abstract Submission Deadline: March 15, 2025
Announcement of Accepted Papers: March 28, 2025
Symposium Date: May 29-30, 2025
Symposium Venue: Hagia Sophia Campus