East Encounters West

France and the Ottoman Empire in the Eighteenth Century

Fatma Muge Gocek

Studies in Middle Eastern History

Based on the account of an Ottoman ambassador's expedition to France in 1720, Göçek's study reveals the complex and differential impact these two societies had on each other.

East Encounters West

France and the Ottoman Empire in the Eighteenth Century

Fatma Muge Gocek

Studies in Middle Eastern History

Description

In 1720, an Ottoman ambassador was sent to the court of the Child King Louis XV to observe Western civilization and report on what he saw and how it could be applied in the Ottoman Empire. Based on the accounts of this ambassador, East Encounters West studies the impact of the West on the Ottoman empire and the impact of this Ottoman embassy on the two societies. In France, the presence of the embassy yielded only a brief fashion of Turquerie, whereas in the Ottoman empire, it yielded the first official printing press, signalling an important step toward Western style. Göçek here assesses the reasons behind these differential impacts through three factors: the Western technological advances, consequent commercial expansion, and the different reactions of various social groups in the Ottoman empire to these developments. Her analysis reveals a far-reaching and complex Westernization process that permeated Turkish society as it was approved and imported by dignitaries and eventually passed onto average households. Sketching the process of Westernization from the perspective of Easterners, this unique book throws new light on the cultural differences between these two major civilizations and on the nature of cultural transmission and diffusion.

East Encounters West

France and the Ottoman Empire in the Eighteenth Century

Fatma Muge Gocek

Studies in Middle Eastern History

Reviews and Awards

"Extremely insightful and useful."--American Historical Review

"A fascinating and scholarly account of important aspects of Western influence on Ottoman development. It deserves special praise for its use of sources....The book is important for students of international relations and for addressing the general question of hwo widely differing civilizations influence each other."--Middle East Journal