The lecture is dedicated to examining the recent advancements in the utilization of spatial digital methodologies for the study of various facets of Ottoman urban centers, spanning both the Asian and European territories of the Empire. This exploration encompasses an in-depth look at the application of these innovative tools in unraveling the complexities of Ottoman urbanism. It aims to conceptualize the utility of the "Digital City" concept, proposing a framework for constructing an all-encompassing spatial digital model of pre-cadastral Ottoman cities. This approach aims to integrate advanced digital tools to reconstruct and analyze the urban fabric of these cities, providing a more nuanced understanding of their historical and spatial dynamics. Drawing inspiration from Benjamin Fraser’s methodology in urban geo-
humanities, the present lecture views the Ottoman-era city of Plovdiv (Filibe) as a portal into the myriad human activities within its built environment. It addresses certain limitations of traditional historical methods by synergizing spatial, architectural, and population data within a cohesive, georeferenced digital model, which facilitates a detailed analysis of temporal and spatial transformations. The proposed methodology can find a wider application in the broader context of Southeastern European urbanism by suggesting a geospatial analysis model applicable in a GIS environment for regional cities, overcoming the absence of contemporary cadastral records.
Dr. Grigor Boykov currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Vienna, the Institute for East European History (IOG). Previously, he taught at the University of Sofia and the Central European University and was a researcher at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. His research blends traditional historical methods with innovative Digital Humanities techniques. To date, Boykov has authored two monographs, edited five volumes, and has written over 30 articles on a variety of interconnected topics pertaining to the history of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans.