Museum and Islamic art at the end of empire

In this thesis, the process of Ottoman Museology and the formation of Islamic art collections from the second half of the 19th century to the first quarter of the 20th century is examined. The role of Ottoman museology and antiquities preservation policies in the conceptualization and politicization of Islamic art and its becoming a political image are evaluated. The historical context of the thesis revolves around the competition for power and legitimacy among empires prominent during this period. The introductory section of the thesis highlights the characteristics of the period when Ottoman museology began and the relationship between Islamic material culture and power, within the context of the Ottoman Palace collections. The second chapter explores the history of the "museum" and the emergence of the concept of "Islamic art," assessing its position in European museums in the 19th century through the lens of the British Museum. The third chapter is dedicated to the establishment of the Ottoman museum and antiquities preservation policies. The fourth chapter covers the establishment of the first Islamic collection at the Ottoman Imperial Museum (Müze-i Hümayun) and the process of founding the Museum of Islamic Foundations (Evkaf-ı İslamiye Müzesi). In the fifth chapter the transformation of antiquities into symbols of inter-imperial competition, their politicization, the conversion of Islamic cultural assets into military targets during prolonged wartime, and preservation policies are emphasized.