Ottoman-Turkish heritage narratives in museum practice: from Empire to Republic

In the decades surrounding the turn of the 20th century the world witnessed the collapse of once great empires and the rise of independent nation-states. With this reconception of the political world order there was an impact in the development of heritage discourses. Museums, archaeology, and collecting were mobilized for the purpose of creating a cohesive state identity. One region that experienced this tremendous social and political change was Asia Minor - that part of the Ottoman Empire that would become the Turkish Republic. How is this radical shift in political ideology reflected in the choices of museum practitioners of the time, and how do these represent a shift in desired representation of Turkish identity? This thesis explores this central question through a comparative analysis of collections at the Istanbul Archaeology Museums and the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, in Ankara. By examining each museums’ early history and the way they have chosen, grouped, and arranged artifacts for display, this thesis looks at the underlying motivations which contributed to particular heritage narratives in each period.M.A.Includes bibliographical reference