Organized by the University of Kyrenia and the International Association of Maritime Studies (IAMS) and hosted by the Near East University, the workshop on “Mediterranean in History: Cyprus and Levant” was realized with broad participation of notable names from the world of science. The scientific outcomes of the workshop will be converted into a source book.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of the University of Kyrenia, papers presented at the workshop by scientists that specialized on the domain of history of science with a particular emphasize on maritime would be published as an international source book after the final assessment and amendments of the renowned scientists.

This source book will be published by the Near East University in collaboration with the International Association of Maritime Studies (IAMS) under the coordinatorship of Near East Institute. The edition for publication will be prepared by Ali Rıza İşipek, the Director of University of Kyrenia Maritime History Research Center and the former Director of Istanbul Maritime Museum, Ercan Çiftlioğlu, the Consultant of Near East Institute, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, the Head of the Department of History Teaching of the Near East University and the member of the Executive Board of the Near East Institute, and Umut Koldaş, the Director of Near East Institute. The Mediterranean history as well as the current political and economic issues were discussed at the workshop on “Mediterranean in History: Cyprus and Levant” which was co-organized by University of Kyrenia Acting Rector Ilkay Salihoğlu, IAMS President, retired Turkish Navy Commander Admiral Metin Ataç, Piri Reis University Rector Prof. Dr. Erdoğan and retired Vice Admiral Işık Biren. The workshop brought many renowned scientists together and set stage for them to discuss various aspects of maritime history of Mediterranean especially the Levant region where the island of Cyprus situated. A total of 23 foreign speakers from Portugal, France, Belgium, Lebanon, Israel, the USA, Russia, Italy and Palestine had participated in the workshop that took place on May 13-14, 2015.

Upholding the highest presentation standards and aiming at establishing collaboration with local and international bodies involved in Mediterranean maritime history, the workshop with its context and systematic approach brought a new dimension to the studies on Mediterranean maritime history. Having never previously examined, issues concerned with Mediterranean and Levant maritime history from the 15th Century to the early 20th Century were discussed thoroughly and new analysis were presented by internationally known maritime and science historians including Alexey Postnikov, Emmanuelle Vagnon, Dejanirah Couto, Marco Morin, Gregory c. McIntosh, Jean-Charles Duchene, Luis Miguel Duarte, Jean-Louis Bacqué-Grammont, Alexis Wick, Mitia Frumin and Özlem Kumrular.