Reflections on the History and Culture of the Sephardic Jewish Communities of the Ottoman Empire

This lecture will explore some of the major themes of the history of Ottoman Sephardic Jewry, from its emergence as a result of migrations from the Iberian peninsula as of the end of the 15th century to its fragmentation and dispersal in the twentieth century. It will analyze the factors that made it a distinctive part of the Jewish diaspora, the evolution of  its Judeo-Spanish culture over the centuries, its economic and social role in the history of the Ottoman Empire, and its transformation in the modern period as a result of the challenges posed by the rise of various nationalisms.