Possible paper topics could include (but are not restricted to):
- Conquest of Istanbul
- The importance of Istanbul for the Turkish-Islamic World
- The role of the city within World History
- The role of Fatih Sultan Mehmed during the formative years of Istanbul
- Physical and topographical development of Ottoman Istanbul
- Istanbul as a multi-cultural city and meeting point of civilizations
- Istanbul as a metropolis
- Istanbul as the administrative center and the capital of the Ottoman Empire
- City governments and historic and cultural heritage conservation
- Town planning, architecture and art of Istanbul
- Social structure, ethnic and confessional communities
- Science, learning and literature in the Ottoman Istanbul
- Economic conditions and commercial activities of Ottoman Istanbul
- Urban Archeology of the Ottoman period
- The ancient heritage in Istanbul through the eyes of the Ottomans