Sena Yapar: The Golden Age of Turkish Humanism – Georg Rohde’s Ankara Stay (1935-1949)

9.12.2025, 19:00-21:00
Orient-Institut Istanbul
Language: English

This presentation, entitled “The Golden Age of Turkish Humanism: Georg Rohde’s Ankara Stay (1935–1949)”, explores the intellectual and cultural significance of German classical philologist Georg Rohde’s (1899-1960) years in Turkey. Arriving in Ankara shortly after Hitler’s rise to power, Rohde played a pioneering role in establishing the first Department of Classical Philology at the newly founded Faculty of Language and History-Geography. His early work aligned with the Kemalist cultural agenda, focusing on the study of Ancient Anatolian civilizations through the lens of classical scholarship. In the subsequent period under President İsmet İnönü and minister of education Hasan Âli Yücel the ideology of “Turkish Humanism” defined state-sponsored cultural politics. Rohde emerged as a significant figure who not only contributed to academic life but also influenced the broader cultural discourse of the era. His departure from Turkey in 1949 coincided with the tense political atmosphere preceding the country’s transition to multi-party democracy. The lecture is part of the first comprehensive examination of Rohde’s years in Turkey, wich is based on extensive archival research. It offers an original contribution not only to scholarship on academic exile and German-speaking émigré academics in Turkey but also to studies of early Republican cultural politics in Turkey.

This event is held in cooperation between the Club Teutonia – German Culture and Welfare Association and the Orient-Institut Istanbul.

Sena Yapar completed her undergraduate education in Economics at Marmara University. Following her studies, she worked as a cultural journalist for Cumhuriyet daily and later as an editor for TABA/AmCham, a bilingual magazine published by the Turkish-American Business Association. She received her first M.A. degree in Cultural Studies from Istanbul Bilgi University and subsequently earned a second M.A. in Turkish Literature from Bilkent University, where she also served as an instructor for three years. Yapar is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Turcology at Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. Her research primarily engages with the cultural history and cultural politics of the early Republican period in Turkey, with particular attention to the intersections of modernity, cultural production, and urban space.

The language of the event is English. Participation is free of charge. To attend in person, please register below. To join online no registration is necessary. 

Photos and videos will be taken during the event. By attending, you consent to their use on the OII’s website, newsletter, and social media channels. The event will not be recorded.

 

VENUE
Orient-Institut Istanbul
Galip Dede Cad. 65, Şahkulu Mah., TR – 34421 Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 293 60 67
oiist@oiist.org | www.oiist.org

REGISTRATION
To attend in person, please register here:

Zoom-Link
https://maxweberstiftung.zoom-x.de/j/61811807452?pwd=TURZav55BiENeI1Tbj2b2VmPDASuP9.1
ID: 618 1180 7452
Code: 737377