The Constantinopel Diary of Ulrich Jasper Seetzen (1802-1803)

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While delving into the diary of Ulrich Jasper Seetzen, the study trip will follow the traces of late Ottoman transculturality in Istanbul`s present day material and immaterial heritage. Historical places and different communities, described by Seetzen, will be visited and documented (photography, video). How did Seetzen understand and describe daily life, cultural and religious practices before orientalism in Istanbul at the beginning of the 19th century? Beside his approach to cultural and social anthropology the study trip will also explore the methods he applied to natural sciences (astronomy, botany etc.).  Finally past and present will be compared, focusing on questions of continuity and discontinuity of Istanbul`s transcultural interlacing.