Museum of Femininity

Welcome to the Museum of Femininity, a laid back podcast exploring different aspects of female history and the representation of women in art and material culture My name is Charlotte Appleyard, a graduate with an MA in Art History and Archaeology of East Asia and museum professional. I have a love of Symbolism, Edo period art, fashion history and all things Victorian. Join me as I learn about areas of art and social history which have either faded from memory or were never taught to me in the first place! This is a fun passion project for me to keep me connected to my various interests, I hope you enjoy my rambles :)

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Museum of Femininity

The Ottoman Imperial Harem

July 31, 2021 • Charlotte Appleyard

In this episode we will be exploring the world of the Ottoman Harem during the 16th century. We will delve into the lives of concubines who lived within it's confines, the hierarchy within the harem as well as the benefits of life there, in addition to the disadvantages.
Furthermore, there are many misconceptions about the harem, relating to Orientalist ideals and a romanticisation of the exotic.
This will be achieved through a discussion around the lives of two favourite concubines Hurrem Sultan (1502 - 1558) and Nurbanu Sultan (1525-1574) both of which rose above the ranks to achieve real power and earn the love and respect of their Sultan's.

Sources
Harem (Suleiman the Magnificent Documentary) | Timeline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc668SpyNe0
https://muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/harem