Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SEABORD (Ottoman Sea Borders, Fortresses and Geo-political Considerations in the Eastern Mediterranean, 1699-1832)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-09-01 bis 2025-08-31
The Eastern Mediterranean was a contested sea in the 18th and early 19th centuries. After 1715 the Ottoman Empire reasserted control over key coasts and islands once held by Venice. The region’s fortresses—especially in the Peloponnese, Crete and Cyprus—were not only walls on a skyline; they were working towns, garrisons and supply hubs that made the sea frontier visible and defensible. Yet this Ottoman century (1715–1821) is the least understood phase in the life of these sites. Many studies stop with the Venetian period or jump straight to the Greek Revolution, leaving open questions: How were the fortresses maintained? How were they supplied with materials, weapons and people? What kinds of trade and everyday life unfolded inside and around them?
SEABORD set out to close this gap. The project’s goals were to:
-reconstruct how fortress-towns were governed, supplied and manned under Ottoman rule;
-show how these places functioned as local economic and social centres, not only military posts;
-bring scattered archives, historic maps and on-site observations together in a coherent, shareable record;
-explain how the Ottomans kept a largely stable sea frontier despite the visible aging of some major forts.
The pathway to impact is twofold: new evidence (datasets, maps, images) that others can reuse, and a fresh interpretive lens—“governance-by-repair”—that links materials, labour, logistics and authority.
SEABORD set out to close this gap. The project’s goals were to:
-reconstruct how fortress-towns were governed, supplied and manned under Ottoman rule;
-show how these places functioned as local economic and social centres, not only military posts;
-bring scattered archives, historic maps and on-site observations together in a coherent, shareable record;
-explain how the Ottomans kept a largely stable sea frontier despite the visible aging of some major forts.
The pathway to impact is twofold: new evidence (datasets, maps, images) that others can reuse, and a fresh interpretive lens—“governance-by-repair”—that links materials, labour, logistics and authority.
Systematic Literature Review:
A comprehensive review of existing scholarship was conducted to map the conceptual and theoretical frameworks relevant to the research. This included key themes such as the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean in the 18th century, fortress technologies and architectural developments, maritime border concepts, and the socio-economic dynamics of the Ottoman Empire in Southeastern Europe. In addition, the review integrated emerging methodological and theoretical approaches—such as environmental history, new materialism, and commons theory—to explore their applicability and potential to open new perspectives on the study of frontier fortresses.
Archival Research:
Extensive multilingual archival research formed the backbone of the project. The fellow systematically examined both digitized and physical archival sources, drawing from repositories in Turkey, Austria, Greece, France, and the United Kingdom. These efforts yielded a substantial body of previously underutilized material, which offered new insights into the research questions and significantly advanced the project's scientific objectives.
Fieldwork:
Site visits were conducted to selected fortresses in the Peloponnese, Crete, and Cyprus. During these visits, the fellow carried out visual documentation (including photography), spatial analysis, and observational recording of the physical remains and current conditions of each site. This field-based component allowed for a critical integration of material evidence with documentary sources.
Trainings: During the course of the project, the fellow advanced her skills as an independent scholar, and developed new skills on digital humanities, and in particular in digital heritage management methods, technologies, and tools, giving specific focus on GIS techniques, and analyses.
Dissemination and Communication:
The fellow actively shared her research findings through participation in six international academic events, engaging with scholars, researchers, and graduate students. She also led three MSCA Ambassador workshops, where she not only presented her project but also provided guidance and training for prospective applicants to the MSCA programme. She already published one peer-reviewed article, another two were writing and submitting; one book chapter of her was published, she submitted another article as part of collective volume, which is in printing and she is preparing a book monograph which will be submitted to an open-access publishing house. The fellow also planned to participate other international workshops and conferences in the coming months, the papers that she will present will serve the basis of chapters for her upcoming monograph on this research project. Beyond academic outputs, the project received broader visibility through a newspaper article, a popular magazine feature, and multiple online appearances in institutional newsletters and social media channels. During the course of the project, the fellow was in close contact with the scholars both from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus establishing a network of research dialogue based on new collaborations for future research projects.
In terms of digital dissemination, two websites were launched: one institutional platform aimed at informing the general public about the project, and a second, content-driven website designed to host and share research outcomes—including digital exhibitions, articles, and interactive resources related to the project theme.
A comprehensive review of existing scholarship was conducted to map the conceptual and theoretical frameworks relevant to the research. This included key themes such as the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean in the 18th century, fortress technologies and architectural developments, maritime border concepts, and the socio-economic dynamics of the Ottoman Empire in Southeastern Europe. In addition, the review integrated emerging methodological and theoretical approaches—such as environmental history, new materialism, and commons theory—to explore their applicability and potential to open new perspectives on the study of frontier fortresses.
Archival Research:
Extensive multilingual archival research formed the backbone of the project. The fellow systematically examined both digitized and physical archival sources, drawing from repositories in Turkey, Austria, Greece, France, and the United Kingdom. These efforts yielded a substantial body of previously underutilized material, which offered new insights into the research questions and significantly advanced the project's scientific objectives.
Fieldwork:
Site visits were conducted to selected fortresses in the Peloponnese, Crete, and Cyprus. During these visits, the fellow carried out visual documentation (including photography), spatial analysis, and observational recording of the physical remains and current conditions of each site. This field-based component allowed for a critical integration of material evidence with documentary sources.
Trainings: During the course of the project, the fellow advanced her skills as an independent scholar, and developed new skills on digital humanities, and in particular in digital heritage management methods, technologies, and tools, giving specific focus on GIS techniques, and analyses.
Dissemination and Communication:
The fellow actively shared her research findings through participation in six international academic events, engaging with scholars, researchers, and graduate students. She also led three MSCA Ambassador workshops, where she not only presented her project but also provided guidance and training for prospective applicants to the MSCA programme. She already published one peer-reviewed article, another two were writing and submitting; one book chapter of her was published, she submitted another article as part of collective volume, which is in printing and she is preparing a book monograph which will be submitted to an open-access publishing house. The fellow also planned to participate other international workshops and conferences in the coming months, the papers that she will present will serve the basis of chapters for her upcoming monograph on this research project. Beyond academic outputs, the project received broader visibility through a newspaper article, a popular magazine feature, and multiple online appearances in institutional newsletters and social media channels. During the course of the project, the fellow was in close contact with the scholars both from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus establishing a network of research dialogue based on new collaborations for future research projects.
In terms of digital dissemination, two websites were launched: one institutional platform aimed at informing the general public about the project, and a second, content-driven website designed to host and share research outcomes—including digital exhibitions, articles, and interactive resources related to the project theme.
While previous research on the fortresses of the Peloponnese—and the Eastern Mediterranean more broadly—has primarily focused on architectural materials, the built environment, and the legacy of earlier periods (notably the Venetian, Byzantine, and Frankish eras), this study offers a novel perspective by foregrounding the Ottoman period. Earlier scholarship has tended to emphasize the original creators of these structures, their architectural styles, construction methods, and technical features. In contrast, this project shifts the focus to the Ottoman role—not only as military actors in the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean, but also as material contributors to the preservation and continued functionality of these fortresses.
Rather than viewing the Ottomans solely as inheritors of earlier structures, this research demonstrates their active role in maintaining, repairing, and provisioning fortress-towns. The study reveals that far from being passive custodians, Ottoman authorities conducted frequent inspections, issued repair orders, and allocated resources for materials, manpower, and military equipment. These acts of upkeep and logistical oversight served as expressions of sovereignty and presence, reinforcing their control over key maritime frontiers. At the same time, moments of neglect or delayed repair efforts may also reflect shifting strategic priorities or the gradual decline in the military importance of certain sites. Ultimately, this project reframes the Ottoman relationship to these fortresses—not only as rulers, but as maintainers and patrons—thereby contributing a critical new dimension to our understanding of fortress governance in the early modern Mediterranean.
Moreover, by focusing specifically on the Ottoman military reintegration of the Peloponnese following its reconquest in 1715, this study demonstrates that the Ottoman Empire retained considerable material and military capacity well into the 18th century. While many contemporary European travelers described the major fortresses of the region as deteriorating or dysfunctional, their accounts were often based on external observation and second-hand information, rather than direct access or in-depth knowledge of the sites. In contrast, Ottoman archival sources reveal a more complex picture—one in which repairs, inspections, and logistical provisions were ongoing, even if unevenly executed.
Crucially, this research situates these fortresses within the shifting geopolitical context of the 18th century: the decline of Venetian power, the arrival of the Russian fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the growing strategic competition between Britain and France for control over key ports and trade routes. Despite these transformations, the Ottomans continued to see themselves—and were seen—as an active and consequential power in the region. Their responses to these developments, including military preparedness and institutional reform, suggest a level of adaptability that challenges the long-standing narrative of irreversible Ottoman decline.
This project, therefore, offers an alternative reading to the dominant European discourse of the time, shaped largely by consular officers, travelers, and other foreign observers who frequently dismissed the Ottoman Empire as a failing polity. By critically revisiting this literature alongside robust archival documentation, the research presents a more nuanced account of Ottoman resilience and strategic agency in the Eastern Mediterranean. It underscores the importance of treating widely cited sources—particularly travel literature—with a critical eye, especially when assessing claims about socio-economic, political, and military conditions in the late Ottoman world.
Rather than viewing the Ottomans solely as inheritors of earlier structures, this research demonstrates their active role in maintaining, repairing, and provisioning fortress-towns. The study reveals that far from being passive custodians, Ottoman authorities conducted frequent inspections, issued repair orders, and allocated resources for materials, manpower, and military equipment. These acts of upkeep and logistical oversight served as expressions of sovereignty and presence, reinforcing their control over key maritime frontiers. At the same time, moments of neglect or delayed repair efforts may also reflect shifting strategic priorities or the gradual decline in the military importance of certain sites. Ultimately, this project reframes the Ottoman relationship to these fortresses—not only as rulers, but as maintainers and patrons—thereby contributing a critical new dimension to our understanding of fortress governance in the early modern Mediterranean.
Moreover, by focusing specifically on the Ottoman military reintegration of the Peloponnese following its reconquest in 1715, this study demonstrates that the Ottoman Empire retained considerable material and military capacity well into the 18th century. While many contemporary European travelers described the major fortresses of the region as deteriorating or dysfunctional, their accounts were often based on external observation and second-hand information, rather than direct access or in-depth knowledge of the sites. In contrast, Ottoman archival sources reveal a more complex picture—one in which repairs, inspections, and logistical provisions were ongoing, even if unevenly executed.
Crucially, this research situates these fortresses within the shifting geopolitical context of the 18th century: the decline of Venetian power, the arrival of the Russian fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the growing strategic competition between Britain and France for control over key ports and trade routes. Despite these transformations, the Ottomans continued to see themselves—and were seen—as an active and consequential power in the region. Their responses to these developments, including military preparedness and institutional reform, suggest a level of adaptability that challenges the long-standing narrative of irreversible Ottoman decline.
This project, therefore, offers an alternative reading to the dominant European discourse of the time, shaped largely by consular officers, travelers, and other foreign observers who frequently dismissed the Ottoman Empire as a failing polity. By critically revisiting this literature alongside robust archival documentation, the research presents a more nuanced account of Ottoman resilience and strategic agency in the Eastern Mediterranean. It underscores the importance of treating widely cited sources—particularly travel literature—with a critical eye, especially when assessing claims about socio-economic, political, and military conditions in the late Ottoman world.