The last post is from 2002 and there has been no activity since then. I didn’t even think that this forum still existed as an internet entity. Obviously, it doesn’t really exist as a forum anymore; there is no one. I don’t think this forum can be brought back to any longer. Well, if it does it will be great, but I am not going to hold my breath. So, I decided to turn this forum to a place where I write my thoughts and the things I come up with about the history of Anatolia, or rather the past of Anatolia. In other words, there will usually (not never) be no politics any more.
What do I mean by history of Anatolia? This will have to be my first post, but I can at least say this much that I will (at least in the beginning) be concentrating mostly on the middle ages.
It looks like I will be the only one to post for a while. But in case there are others, there are no restrictions on how to post other than the usual stuff such as no insults, personal attacks and etc. The forum is open to everyone for now, but the posts will be moderated.
I was actually going through a lot of old "favourites" links, deleting those I no longer use or which no longer exist (checking them first of course) and with one of them I arrived here. So you are still here :)
Don't know if I ever did post anything back in 2001, but I certainly read what was here. So if you are writing new things then I will return again (I'll come back again anyway to properly read what new things are here - don't have time at the moment).
There is a need for a proper forum that would be dedicated in an impartial way to the cultures/histories within Turkey and the countries that surround it. That was true in 2001 and, alas, it is still true. Most of what is out there is, as it all ways was, mostly ethno-centric and full of bigoted rants. A few years I did think about seting up such a forum that would cover all these areas in one place, but things happened that put me off doing it.
Yes, I am still here. Well, actually, I did the same thing you did and found myself here.
I do agree with you and that is exactly what I want to do here. I haven't posted too many new things yet, but in time there will be.
Ethnocentric approach does bother me as well. Even though it is never really possible to be hundred percent objective, we may be still be much less ethnocentric than now or put something else in the centre. I am hopiing that I will eventually come up with such a site.
I am back in Turkey now and teaching a couple of history courses,trying to give a less ethnocentric view of Anatolia, and doing some other stuff. In fact, I named one of the classes I am teaching the History of Anatolia from Byzantium to the Ottomans.
Nice to hear from you again and feel free to make contributions.