New academic chair to unveil Asia Minor’s legacy

For the first time, Asia Minor studies will have a focused presence in Greek higher education with a new endowed chair at the University of Macedonia’s Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies. 

The chair focusing on Asia Minor – Anatolia in modern Turkey – aims to bridge Balkan and Middle Eastern research. According to Professor Dimitris A. Stamatopoulos, the chair will fill a research gap by examining critical events like the Asia Minor Catastrophe (the Greek-Turkish War in 1922) and its broader impact.

Funded by donations from prominent companies such as Alumil and Optima Bank, this chair will explore Asia Minor’s multicultural legacy, including its ancient Greek populations and interactions with Armenians, Turks and others. The official announcement is scheduled for Friday at Thessaloniki City Council Hall, with speeches from the university’s rector and guest academics like Helene Glykatzi-Ahrweiler.

The university’s stated aim is to highlight the region’s historical significance and foster interdisciplinary research.

Source: ekathimerini.com