Halil İnalcık commemorated at Turkish Historical Society on 10th anniversary of his death

Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık, one of the prominent figures of Turkish historiography, was commemorated on the 10th anniversary of his death with a panel held at the Turkish Historical Society.

Scraper SystemJune 17, 2026, 07:26 PM

Halil İnalcık commemorated at Turkish Historical Society on 10th anniversary of his death

Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık, one of the leading figures of Turkish historiography, was commemorated on the 10th anniversary of his death with a panel held at the Turkish Historical Society Conference Hall. The program began with the screening of a video featuring speeches and interviews of İnalcık and Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı.

Speaking at the opening of the panel, Turkish Historical Society President Prof. Dr. Yüksel Özgen said that Halil İnalcık left deep marks not only in Turkey but also in world historiography. Özgen noted that a significant portion of İnalcık's work is among the Turkish Historical Society's publications and that he contributed to the institution's activities for many years.

Özgen stated that they organized the commemoration meeting for İnalcık as a requirement of loyalty, saying, "We wanted to hold this commemorative meeting here today as a tribute to our esteemed teacher. We remember our teacher with mercy."

Academics' assessments of İnalcık's legacy

During the panel chaired by Harvard University faculty member Prof. Dr. Cemal Kafadar, academics recounted İnalcık's contributions to historiography, his scholarly legacy, and personal memories. The speeches emphasized that İnalcık influenced generations not only through his works but also through his academic personality.

Istanbul Medipol University faculty member Prof. Dr. Mehmet İpşirli said that İnalcık left deep traces on historiography with his academic personality and the students he trained. İpşirli stated that he had followed İnalcık's works since his student years and that his studies on Ottoman history remain among the primary reference sources today.

İpşirli explained that İnalcık placed importance on encyclopedic works and possessed a strong work discipline and a broad knowledge base. He noted that the historian's research on the foundation of the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans also made significant contributions to historiography.

Reminding that İnalcık, who served in the United States for many years, introduced Turkish history to the international academic world, İpşirli said the historian also trained numerous students at Bilkent University.

Özer Ergenç: I learned the methodology of historiography from him

Bilkent University faculty member Prof. Dr. Özer Ergenç recalled that he served as İnalcık's assistant during his doctoral studies and afterwards, saying that he was one of the primary figures from whom he learned the methodology of historiography. Ergenç expressed that he learned how historical research should be conducted, the quality of the relationship with sources, and the responsibility of the historian through İnalcık's approach.

Ergenç emphasized that Halil İnalcık was not merely an academic who transmitted knowledge, but also a figure who showed how the discipline of historiography should be established and developed. He added that İnalcık's lectures and approach opened significant horizons for him.

Remembered also for his wide cultural interests

Prof. Dr. Cemal Kafadar said that İnalcık was a versatile intellectual not only in his academic work but also in his personal interests. Kafadar explained that İnalcık had a great interest in architecture, cinema, art history, and literature, and was particularly engaged with Divan poetry and modern literature.

Kafadar noted that İnalcık's studies on the Ottoman land system, peasantry, urbanization, and economic structure provided strong answers to the fundamental problems of the era. In this context, he pointed to the 1969 article "Capital Formation in the Ottoman Empire" as an important example.

It was stated at the panel that the academic legacy left by İnalcık continues to serve as a fundamental reference not only for historians but for a wider intellectual circle. Participants expressed that his contributions to historiography and academic tradition will be remembered for many years to come.

Halil İnalcık commemorated at Turkish Historical Society on 10th anniversary of his death

Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık, one of the prominent figures of Turkish historiography, was commemorated on the 10th anniversary of his death with a panel held at the Turkish Historical Society.