The Coverings of an Empire: An Examination of Ottoman Headgear from 1500 to 1829

Connor H. Richardson '15, Gettysburg College

Abstract

This paper investigates the socio-economic and religious implications of hats worn in the Ottoman Empire from the mid-sixteenth century to 1829, when they were all replaced with the legendary fez. It acts as an initial compendium, drawing heavily from primary sources to explain who wore which style of headgear and why.