Assoc. Prof. Murat Doğan took part in the "XIV. International Eurasia Congress on Scientific Researches and Recent Trends," held this year in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, between August 25–31, 2025. The congress, aimed at sharing scientific research on a global stage, featured the participation of academics from 16 different countries.
Doğan’s study examines the 14th-century travelogue of Ibn Battuta, one of the most significant travelers of the Middle Ages, from a culinary culture perspective. Conducted using qualitative research methods, the study utilized document review and thematic analysis techniques, identifying nine core themes within the travelogue:
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Environmental Determinism in Food Culture
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Staple Foods and Culinary Identity
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Social Hierarchies and Dining Rituals
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Food and Religious Practices
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Hospitality as Cultural Capital
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Trade and the Global Food Economy
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Culinary Techniques and Tools
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Cultural Exchange and Culinary Syncretism
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Food Symbolism and Identity
Assoc. Prof. Doğan shared the following assessment regarding his work:
"Ibn Battuta’s narrative demonstrates that food was not merely a source of sustenance, but a 'social currency' through which fundamental social structures such as belief, politics, trade, and identity were expressed. In the 14th-century Islamic world, a shared meal was one of the cornerstones of civilization."
The results of the study reveal how food evolved into a tool of power, an element of cultural identity, and a vector of global interaction throughout history. Specifically, the study provides a detailed analysis of how environmental conditions, religious practices, hospitality norms, and international trade networks shaped culinary cultures.
Bibliographic information for the full paper is as follows:
Doğan, M. (2025). İbn Battuta (ö. 1369) Seyahatnamesi’nde Yemek Kültürü. International Euroasia Congress on Scientific Researches and Recent Trends XIV, Mekke, Suudi Arabistan.
We congratulate Assoc. Prof. Murat Doğan and wish him continued success in his academic endeavors.
