Vincent
@vincente.bsky.social
Research MA at Leiden University; working on social networks and book circulation in the late Ottoman Empire
Pinned
Vincent
@vincente.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Project MUSE - From Private Libraries in Late Ottoman Palestine to "Abandoned Property": Reconstructing the Dajānī Family Manuscript Collections in the National Library of Israel
doi.org
My first peer-reviewed article, based on my BA thesis at FU Berlin, has just been published (OA). It traces Palestinian libraries from the late Ottoman period in the so-called Abandoned Property Collection (NLI). Thank you to everyone who supported! doi.org/10.1353/mns.... @sims-mss.bsky.social
Reposted by Vincent
⚠️ Ce soir je devrais être dans l'avion vers Jérusalem ✈️, pour une semaine de séminaires et rencontres avec des Palestiniens et des Israéliens 🇵🇸🇮🇱, collègues, lycéens, étudiants. Le gouvernement israélien a décidé de me boycotter et de m'interdire d'embarquer. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
January 12, 2026 at 12:15 AM
⚠️ Ce soir je devrais être dans l'avion vers Jérusalem ✈️, pour une semaine de séminaires et rencontres avec des Palestiniens et des Israéliens 🇵🇸🇮🇱, collègues, lycéens, étudiants. Le gouvernement israélien a décidé de me boycotter et de m'interdire d'embarquer. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Reposted by Vincent
(1/5) Eine der spannendsten Initiativen des Jahres: Eine Gruppe von Abiturienten der Walter-Gropius-Schule in Berlin-Neukölln hat im Laufe von 2025 einen beeindruckenden Podcast zu Israel und Palästina auf die Beine gestellt. 51 Episoden an Interviews mit international renommierten
December 31, 2025 at 2:22 PM
(1/5) Eine der spannendsten Initiativen des Jahres: Eine Gruppe von Abiturienten der Walter-Gropius-Schule in Berlin-Neukölln hat im Laufe von 2025 einen beeindruckenden Podcast zu Israel und Palästina auf die Beine gestellt. 51 Episoden an Interviews mit international renommierten
Update: In a statement, Bonn University confirms the renaming of the Otto Spies Memorial Series because of the archival material I quoted in my blogpost. In the meantime, the local newspaper Bonner General-Anzeiger published an article on the issue as well.
www.ioa.uni-bonn.de/isl/de/nachr...
www.ioa.uni-bonn.de/isl/de/nachr...
December 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Update: In a statement, Bonn University confirms the renaming of the Otto Spies Memorial Series because of the archival material I quoted in my blogpost. In the meantime, the local newspaper Bonner General-Anzeiger published an article on the issue as well.
www.ioa.uni-bonn.de/isl/de/nachr...
www.ioa.uni-bonn.de/isl/de/nachr...
We published version 5.0 of the Audition Certificate Platform today. It now includes 5560 annotated certificates: www.audition-certificates-platform.org
ACP Search - ACP - Audition Certificates Platform
www.audition-certificates-platform.org
December 1, 2025 at 12:36 PM
We published version 5.0 of the Audition Certificate Platform today. It now includes 5560 annotated certificates: www.audition-certificates-platform.org
Reposted by Vincent
It is difficult to know how to go about explaining to students that this series was named—in 2015!—for a member of the Nazi Party who was writing things like: 2/3
November 29, 2025 at 7:37 PM
It is difficult to know how to go about explaining to students that this series was named—in 2015!—for a member of the Nazi Party who was writing things like: 2/3
Reposted by Vincent
This is really startling! I have found that Bonn's memorial lecture series and publication provides accessible introductions to topics at the forefront of research in Ottoman studies. For Monday I had even assigned Faroqhi's contribution on Ottoman slavery to an intro course I am teaching. 1/3
I wrote a blog post explaining why I consider an honour for the orientalist Otto Spies (1901-1981) problematic, based on correspondence I examined in Berlin this summer:
disorient.de/magazin/trot...
disorient.de/magazin/trot...
Trotz NS-Vergangenheit: Universität Bonn ehrt Otto Spies
Seit 2015 trägt eine Vorlesungs- und Publikationsreihe an der Universität Bonn den Namen des Orientalisten Otto Spies – obwohl seine Nähe zum Nationalsozialismus dokumentiert ist. Neue Forschungsergeb...
disorient.de
November 29, 2025 at 7:37 PM
This is really startling! I have found that Bonn's memorial lecture series and publication provides accessible introductions to topics at the forefront of research in Ottoman studies. For Monday I had even assigned Faroqhi's contribution on Ottoman slavery to an intro course I am teaching. 1/3
I wrote a blog post explaining why I consider an honour for the orientalist Otto Spies (1901-1981) problematic, based on correspondence I examined in Berlin this summer:
disorient.de/magazin/trot...
disorient.de/magazin/trot...
Trotz NS-Vergangenheit: Universität Bonn ehrt Otto Spies
Seit 2015 trägt eine Vorlesungs- und Publikationsreihe an der Universität Bonn den Namen des Orientalisten Otto Spies – obwohl seine Nähe zum Nationalsozialismus dokumentiert ist. Neue Forschungsergeb...
disorient.de
November 28, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I wrote a blog post explaining why I consider an honour for the orientalist Otto Spies (1901-1981) problematic, based on correspondence I examined in Berlin this summer:
disorient.de/magazin/trot...
disorient.de/magazin/trot...
Reposted by Vincent
On the construction and practice of "ordinary" Islam through the lens of one eighteenth century Ottoman traveler and his encounter with a rather unusual saint's shrine in Homs:
At the Tomb of Bābā 'Amr in Homs
A Glimpse at Early Modern Ottoman Islam
jonathanparkesallen.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:39 AM
On the construction and practice of "ordinary" Islam through the lens of one eighteenth century Ottoman traveler and his encounter with a rather unusual saint's shrine in Homs:
Reposted by Vincent
Library studies at its best!
My first peer-reviewed article, based on my BA thesis at FU Berlin, has just been published (OA). It traces Palestinian libraries from the late Ottoman period in the so-called Abandoned Property Collection (NLI). Thank you to everyone who supported! doi.org/10.1353/mns.... @sims-mss.bsky.social
Project MUSE - From Private Libraries in Late Ottoman Palestine to "Abandoned Property": Reconstructing the Dajānī Family Manuscript Collections in the National Library of Israel
doi.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Library studies at its best!
My first peer-reviewed article, based on my BA thesis at FU Berlin, has just been published (OA). It traces Palestinian libraries from the late Ottoman period in the so-called Abandoned Property Collection (NLI). Thank you to everyone who supported! doi.org/10.1353/mns.... @sims-mss.bsky.social
Project MUSE - From Private Libraries in Late Ottoman Palestine to "Abandoned Property": Reconstructing the Dajānī Family Manuscript Collections in the National Library of Israel
doi.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:49 PM
My first peer-reviewed article, based on my BA thesis at FU Berlin, has just been published (OA). It traces Palestinian libraries from the late Ottoman period in the so-called Abandoned Property Collection (NLI). Thank you to everyone who supported! doi.org/10.1353/mns.... @sims-mss.bsky.social
The Hellmut Ritter memorial stone, situated above the German military cemetery in Tarabya. Created in 1986 by Bern Pielemeier at the initiative of Traugott Fuchs. Today, the once open view of the Bosphorus has become overgrown (as the stone itself will be overgrown soon).
November 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The Hellmut Ritter memorial stone, situated above the German military cemetery in Tarabya. Created in 1986 by Bern Pielemeier at the initiative of Traugott Fuchs. Today, the once open view of the Bosphorus has become overgrown (as the stone itself will be overgrown soon).
Reposted by Vincent
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
One of the best archival experiences for me so far has been the Archive of the Turkish Historical Society in Ankara (Türk Tarih Kurumu Arşivi). After my request, they send me within in 24 hours all documents related to my research as pdf and jpg file for free via fileshare.
October 24, 2025 at 11:25 AM
One of the best archival experiences for me so far has been the Archive of the Turkish Historical Society in Ankara (Türk Tarih Kurumu Arşivi). After my request, they send me within in 24 hours all documents related to my research as pdf and jpg file for free via fileshare.
I always wondered how the Ottoman budget for the year 1904-5 found it's way to the Leiden Special collection. Turns out it might be from the library of Sultan Murad V. "formally bought by Cense [former head of the NIT Istanbul] personally to avoid problems with Turkish customs authorities" in 1962:
October 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I always wondered how the Ottoman budget for the year 1904-5 found it's way to the Leiden Special collection. Turns out it might be from the library of Sultan Murad V. "formally bought by Cense [former head of the NIT Istanbul] personally to avoid problems with Turkish customs authorities" in 1962:
It is intriguing to note that parts of these manuscripts were lost to the flames during the destruction of the Leuven library in 1940. One can’t help but wonder what the collectors who transferred antiquities to Europe, often self-identified "saviours", would have to say about it.
And the twentieth century adds some additional interesting layers (Witkam, Inventory vol. 15, 95):
October 17, 2025 at 1:14 PM
It is intriguing to note that parts of these manuscripts were lost to the flames during the destruction of the Leuven library in 1940. One can’t help but wonder what the collectors who transferred antiquities to Europe, often self-identified "saviours", would have to say about it.
Still a very nice introduction to get a sense of what has been done in languages other than english before 2000:
October 4, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Still a very nice introduction to get a sense of what has been done in languages other than english before 2000:
Reposted by Vincent
I'm feeling a new love for a clumsy sentence or a misspelled word. I imagine a human on the other end. Doing their own typing, like the old days.
I'm thinking about styles of writing that might emerge from this-- analogues to a guacamole I once saw advertised as "hand hacked" at a fancy restaurant.
I'm thinking about styles of writing that might emerge from this-- analogues to a guacamole I once saw advertised as "hand hacked" at a fancy restaurant.
October 1, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I'm feeling a new love for a clumsy sentence or a misspelled word. I imagine a human on the other end. Doing their own typing, like the old days.
I'm thinking about styles of writing that might emerge from this-- analogues to a guacamole I once saw advertised as "hand hacked" at a fancy restaurant.
I'm thinking about styles of writing that might emerge from this-- analogues to a guacamole I once saw advertised as "hand hacked" at a fancy restaurant.
Reposted by Vincent
“The Lebanese label produced hundreds, if not thousands, of recordings in Berlin up until the eve of World War II.”
Anna-Theresa Bachmann and Hannah El-Hitami explore the history of Baidaphon for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
Anna-Theresa Bachmann and Hannah El-Hitami explore the history of Baidaphon for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
The Arab World’s First Indie Record Label
A Lebanese family’s global brand reflects the story of 20th-century Europe — and its relationship with the Middle East
newlinesmag.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
“The Lebanese label produced hundreds, if not thousands, of recordings in Berlin up until the eve of World War II.”
Anna-Theresa Bachmann and Hannah El-Hitami explore the history of Baidaphon for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
Anna-Theresa Bachmann and Hannah El-Hitami explore the history of Baidaphon for @newlinesmag.bsky.social
My word autocorrection on the state of German Ottoman scholarship:
September 26, 2025 at 6:01 AM
My word autocorrection on the state of German Ottoman scholarship:
Jan Schmidt on his work as a cataloguer of the Turkish manuscripts at John Rylands University Library, Manchester:
September 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Jan Schmidt on his work as a cataloguer of the Turkish manuscripts at John Rylands University Library, Manchester:
Important thread on the smuggle of Papyrus bilinguis 1, currently still in the holdings of @stabihh.bsky.social Why is there no public debate in Hamburg about ethical responsibilities today? @juergenzimmerer.bsky.social @spiegel.de @zeit.de @recherche.ndr.de @ndr.de
But the story does not end here. How should institutions address illicit acquisitions of the past? What responsibilities follow for today’s collections? So far, the State and University Library Hamburg has not taken a clear position - an open debate is still needed.
September 13, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Important thread on the smuggle of Papyrus bilinguis 1, currently still in the holdings of @stabihh.bsky.social Why is there no public debate in Hamburg about ethical responsibilities today? @juergenzimmerer.bsky.social @spiegel.de @zeit.de @recherche.ndr.de @ndr.de
Reposted by Vincent
Once a hub of Ottoman culture, Süleyman Efendi’s library was scattered by conquest. In our PhD Research Series, Rawda El-Hajji traces these manuscripts, showing how they help reconstruct lost intellectual communities and reveal the fate of cultural heritage in times of conflict:
uhh.de/csmc-el-hajji
uhh.de/csmc-el-hajji
August 6, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Once a hub of Ottoman culture, Süleyman Efendi’s library was scattered by conquest. In our PhD Research Series, Rawda El-Hajji traces these manuscripts, showing how they help reconstruct lost intellectual communities and reveal the fate of cultural heritage in times of conflict:
uhh.de/csmc-el-hajji
uhh.de/csmc-el-hajji
Reposted by Vincent
50. Read PhD and MA theses when you are doing research. There is so much great scholarship by people who never got the opportunity to publish their research as a book.
August 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM
50. Read PhD and MA theses when you are doing research. There is so much great scholarship by people who never got the opportunity to publish their research as a book.
Reposted by Vincent
74. Historians should share sources more. Like, actually give colleagues sources that you found so they can use them.
August 5, 2025 at 9:49 AM
74. Historians should share sources more. Like, actually give colleagues sources that you found so they can use them.
Reposted by Vincent
Man könnte sagen - alles kalter Kaffee, aber Jens Spahn hat sich als Fraktionsvorsitzender in die Pole Position für die nächste Kanzlerkandidatur gebracht. Auch bei diesem Vorgang stellt sich, wie auch bei der Maskenaffäre die Frage -
für wen arbeitet Jens Spahn? Für sich oder für die Bürger*innen?
für wen arbeitet Jens Spahn? Für sich oder für die Bürger*innen?
Jens Spahn hat nicht nur Vetternwirtschaft beim Maskendeal betrieben, er hat zuvor auch noch die Krankenkassen austrocknen lassen – und die steigenden Beiträge zahlen wir jetzt.
Wie genau, erklärt uns in 1 Minute erklärt der Chef der Technischen Krankenkasse.
Wie genau, erklärt uns in 1 Minute erklärt der Chef der Technischen Krankenkasse.
July 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Man könnte sagen - alles kalter Kaffee, aber Jens Spahn hat sich als Fraktionsvorsitzender in die Pole Position für die nächste Kanzlerkandidatur gebracht. Auch bei diesem Vorgang stellt sich, wie auch bei der Maskenaffäre die Frage -
für wen arbeitet Jens Spahn? Für sich oder für die Bürger*innen?
für wen arbeitet Jens Spahn? Für sich oder für die Bürger*innen?