Koç University is the first university in Turkey which opened a Byzantine Research Center. Following this example, Boğaziçi University has become the first state university opening a Byzantine Research Center.
Koç University opened a Center for Late Antique and Byzantine Studies (CLABS) in collaboration with Stavros Niarchos Foundation, in its Rumeli Feneri Campus. For the first time in Turkey, two Byzantine Research Centers have been founded. It is also significant that they have been opened in 2015, the same year.
What is Byzantine Empire? It is İstanbul which etymologically means “in the city.” It is East-Roman Empire at the same time. These lands were actually the lands once Byzantine had kept living for nearly one thousand years. Turkey’s land overlaps with the land of Byzantine geographically. Therefore, it is not surprising that a Byzantine Research Center has been founded in the lands where Byzantine actually existed.
Hey, I’m a stambouliote born and bred. Currently a student.