Haşim Şahin, a faculty member of the Department of History at Anadolu University, met with students and academics at the seminar titled “An Intellectual Ottoman Sultan: Mehmed the Conqueror,” organized by our faculty at the Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar Amphitheater. Held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the event focused not only on the military and political achievements of Fatih Sultan Mehmed, but also on his contributions to science, art, and intellectual life.
During the seminar, Prof. Dr. Haşim Şahin emphasized that Mehmed the Conqueror was a multifaceted ruler, noting that he received a strong education from an early age and developed an interest in different languages. Şahin stated that following the conquest of Istanbul, Mehmed aimed to transform the city not only into a political center but also into a hub of science and culture.
The event also included information about Mehmed the Conqueror’s relationships with scholars and artists, the importance he attached to madrasas, and his contributions to the development of scholarly activities in the Ottoman Empire. Highlighting the flourishing of cultural and academic life during Mehmed’s reign, Şahin noted that the sultan’s support for the arts held a significant place in the Ottoman intellectual world.
The seminar, which attracted strong interest from students, concluded with a question-and-answer session during which participants’ questions were addressed.
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