Archeopolitics III Successfully Completed in Bodrum: A Journey at the Intersection of Archaeology, History, and Geopolitics

May 17-23
Muğla/Bodrum

The third edition of Bodrum Institute’s prestigious summer school series “Archeopolitics”, which blends archaeology, political science, and international relations, was held this year in Bodrum with a high level of intellectual participation between May 17-24, 2026.

Organized within the scope of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP) in partnership with TOBB University of Economics and Technology (TOBB ETÜ), Eötvös Loránd University, Panteion University, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, and the Bodrum Institute, the “SUI 372 History of Civilizations through Archeopolitics” course module offered participants from all over the world a unique interdisciplinary experience.

Following a 21-hour online session held between May 4-15, 2026, the program continued between May 17-23 with face-to-face lectures, field trips, and the active participation of students in discussion sessions.

Opening Session and Guests of Honor

The program commenced with an insightful opening lecture titled “The Process Leading to the Formation of the State from an Archaeology Perspective” by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özdoğan, one of Türkiye’s leading archaeologists. We also had the honor of hosting a very special guest at this year’s opening: Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, under whose leadership the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize during his tenure as Director-General, honored the opening of Archeopolitics III with his participation. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Haldun Yalçınkaya delivered a presentation introducing the Bodrum Institute to the participants.

Conceptual Discussions from the Depths of History to the Present

Prof. Dr. Erdem Denk, who undertook the main facilitation of the intensive academic sessions throughout the week, took the participants on a deep conceptual journey through the critical turning points of human history. Throughout the program, the construction of civilizations and the evolution of political systems were examined under the following main topics:

• Nomads and Settlers: In the session titled “The Challenge of the Barbarians of the Steppes with the Settlements,” encounters, tensions, and social transformations throughout history were discussed.
• The Origin of Empires: In the lecture “The Achaemenid Empires as a Forerunner of the Empires of Middle Ages,” imperial legacy, power balances, and historical continuity were analyzed.
• The Construction of Europe: “The Roman Empire: Europe in the Making?” was discussed, exploring how imperial structures, political order, and identity shaped the foundations of today’s Europe. This visionary session was held interactively in the open air within the historical atmosphere of the Bodrum Antique Theatre, providing participants with an unforgettable experience.
• Modern World Order and Globalization: In the closing sessions, the topics of “The 1492 Affect: Invention of the West and Its Liberal World Order” and “The Globalization Affect: Westlessness-Illiberal World Order,” aimed at understanding the present day, were thoroughly discussed in all their dimensions.

Certificate Ceremony and Closing

Following days filled with inspiring lectures, field studies, and rich interdisciplinary discussions on the history of civilizations, the Archeopolitics III program concluded with a proud certificate ceremony.

With our vision of turning Bodrum into an international intellectual meeting point, we would like to thank all our esteemed professors, partner universities, and participants who accompanied us on this extraordinary journey at the intersection of archaeology, history, and geopolitics.