JSB_SLAV53 Turkish Wars 1526-1878: Habsburg Monarchy, Poland, Russia and Cossacks against the Ottoman Empire

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Václav Štěpánek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Václav Štěpánek, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Václav Štěpánek, Ph.D.
Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Pavel Pilch, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This historically-oriented course offers a comparative look on the era 1526-1878 when the most pressing issue was the defense of Central and Eastern Europe against expanding Ottoman Empire. Course also notices seemingly marginal issues - Polish and Russian relations to independent Cossacks. Course analysis independent phases of relations between Russia, Poland, Habsburg Monarchy, Cossacks and Ottoman Empire and notices situation, when - in front of falling Polish power - the main role of defender against Ottomans was taken over by Russian Empire. Russia ended this issue in the war arising from the Great Eastern Crisis in 1877-1878, that was finalized by Congress of Berlin.
Learning outcomes
Students will extend their knowledge of European history by lesser-known facts about the influence of Ottoman Empire on a great part of European continent in 15th - 18th century and will understand the phenomenon of "Turkish danger" in then situation and thinking of people. At the same time, they will be able to understand development of power politics in the changing Central and Eastern Europe, how "Ottoman danger" put together and at the same time divided important states and how this danger influenced culture, folk culture and thinking in the areas in question in general.
Syllabus
  • 1. Ottoman expansion in Balkans and first non-Balkan attempts to stop it (Sigismund of Luxembourg and Battle of Nicopolis, Vladislav Varenčín and Battle of Varna, János Hunyadi.
  • 2. Causes and consequences of Bottle of Mohács (1526).
  • 3. Poland and Ottoman problem.
  • 4. Khotyn in Polish history.
  • 5. O sultan, Turkish devil and damned devil's kith and kin, secretary to Lucifer himself. Cossacks and Ottoman Empire.
  • 6. Great Turkish War 1683–1699.
  • 7. Famous defeaters of Turks.
  • 8. Russia steps in.
  • 9. Cooperation of Russia and Habsburg Monarchy in the solution of "Turkish problem" in the second half of 18th century.
  • 10. Russia, Britain, France and Ottoman Empire.
  • 11. Crimean War.
  • 12.-13. Great Eastern Crisis, Russo-Turkish War 1887-1888 and Congress of Berlin.
Literature
  • FRIEDL, Jiří, Tomasz JUREK, Miloš ŘEZNÍK and Martin WIHODA. Dějiny Polska. Translated by Martin Veselka. Vydání první. Praha: NLN Nakladatelství lidové noviny, 2017, 690 stran. ISBN 9788074223068. info
  • VYDRA, Zbyněk, Michal ŘOUTIL, Jitka KOMENDOVÁ, Kateřina HLOUŠKOVÁ and Michal TÉRA. Dějiny Ruska. Vydání první. Praha: NLN, Nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2017, 499 stran. ISBN 9788074223242. info
  • ŠTĚPÁNEK, Václav. Východní otázka. Od počátků do konce 60. let 19. století (Eastern question. From the beginnings to the end of the 60s of the 19th century). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 148 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7419-4. Digitální knihovna FF MU info
  • ŠVANKMAJER, Milan. Dějiny Ruska. 5. rozš. vyd. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2008, 594 s. ISBN 9788071066132. info
  • VLNAS, Vít. Princ Evžen Savojský : život a sláva barokního válečníka : Evžen Savojský : život a sláva barokního válečníka (Variant.). Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2001, 849 s., [8. ISBN 80-7185-380-1. info
  • RICHTER, Karel. Princ Evžen Savojský : pán bitevních polí. Edited by Dušan Uhlíř. Vyd. 1. Třebíč: Akcent, 2000, 397 s. ISBN 8072681206. info
  • PALMER, Alan. Úpadek a pád Osmanské říše. Translated by Olga Kovářová - Martin Kovář. Vyd. 1. Praha: Panevropa, 1996, 351 s., [8. ISBN 80-85846-05-5. info
  • PALMER, Alan. The decline and fall of the Ottoman empire. London: John Murray, 1993, ix, 306 s. ISBN 0-7195-4934-5. info
Teaching methods
Lectures focusing on discussion. Course might be accompanied by an excursion to Balkans and visit of important battle fields.
Assessment methods
Prerequisites for granting the credit: regular attendance and solid home preparation on weekly basis, participation in class discussion. Oral exam concentrates on the student’s knowledge of the subject matter and the relevant literature.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/JSB_SLAV53