The Empire In Chicago: Ottoman Exhibits at the World's Columbian Exhibition (Attached to the HST 296 World’s Fair group)
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
Steven Hamilton. The Empire On Display: Ottoman Exhibits at the World's Columbian Exhibition. M.A. University of Vermont April 2019.
In conjunction with the rest of the HST 296 World's Fair group, this paper attempts to examine the presence of the Ottoman Empire (designated "Turkey" in some primary materials) at the World's Columbian Exhibition of 1893 in Chicago. The primary lens will be Ottoman efforts to project their own image internationally, whether through economic, cultural or military channels, at the venue of the World's Fair.
The presence of the Ottoman Empire at the World's Columbian Exposition is worth pursuing, because the admission of the Empire into "the White City" to present herself (as opposed to being presented) to the world raises issues about how far the European state system had spread by the late 19th century, and how non-Western powers bought into (or did not buy into) the overarching narrative of progress.
Problem Statement: This paper examines the Ottoman Empire's agenda for participation in the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the primary objectives of that state, and the relative success or failure of each objective.
Methods: This paper will comprise an assessment of whatever secondary material has already been published on similar or related subjects, as well as archival documents acquired via UVM's libraries and databases.
Results:
The Ottoman Empire was able to leverage a successful public-private joint venture in order to largely control the use of its cultural image at the fair, largely by way of the Midway "Turkish Village" and the Turkish national building itself. Efforts to secure economic contacts were mixed at best, while the Sultan's own pet project (a display of naval equipment) failed to secure significant attention.
Conclusion: While first decade of the 20th century was marked by a significant decline in Ottoman internal stability and international prestige, the Empire was still able to actively compete at events such as the Chicago World's Fair, and used these events in order to reinforce its position diplomatically.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Nicole Phelps
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
Courtney Smith, Kiara Day, Megan Gamiz, Madeline Hunter (HST 296 World’s Fair group Members)
Status
Graduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
History
Primary Research Category
Arts & Humanities
The Empire In Chicago: Ottoman Exhibits at the World's Columbian Exhibition (Attached to the HST 296 World’s Fair group)
Steven Hamilton. The Empire On Display: Ottoman Exhibits at the World's Columbian Exhibition. M.A. University of Vermont April 2019.
In conjunction with the rest of the HST 296 World's Fair group, this paper attempts to examine the presence of the Ottoman Empire (designated "Turkey" in some primary materials) at the World's Columbian Exhibition of 1893 in Chicago. The primary lens will be Ottoman efforts to project their own image internationally, whether through economic, cultural or military channels, at the venue of the World's Fair.
The presence of the Ottoman Empire at the World's Columbian Exposition is worth pursuing, because the admission of the Empire into "the White City" to present herself (as opposed to being presented) to the world raises issues about how far the European state system had spread by the late 19th century, and how non-Western powers bought into (or did not buy into) the overarching narrative of progress.
Problem Statement: This paper examines the Ottoman Empire's agenda for participation in the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the primary objectives of that state, and the relative success or failure of each objective.
Methods: This paper will comprise an assessment of whatever secondary material has already been published on similar or related subjects, as well as archival documents acquired via UVM's libraries and databases.
Results:
The Ottoman Empire was able to leverage a successful public-private joint venture in order to largely control the use of its cultural image at the fair, largely by way of the Midway "Turkish Village" and the Turkish national building itself. Efforts to secure economic contacts were mixed at best, while the Sultan's own pet project (a display of naval equipment) failed to secure significant attention.
Conclusion: While first decade of the 20th century was marked by a significant decline in Ottoman internal stability and international prestige, the Empire was still able to actively compete at events such as the Chicago World's Fair, and used these events in order to reinforce its position diplomatically.