Famous historian Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı has held two conferences in Vienna for Austrians and Turks in the city at the invitation of Vienna branch of Yunus Emre Institute.

Austrians showed great interest in the first conference entitled "Revolutions of 1848 and Migration in Europe" he gave in German on Tuesday, March 5 in Diplomatische Akademie Wien (Diplomacy Academy of Vienna). In the conference, Ortaylı focused on the social and political impact of the Revolutions of 1848, which influenced the entire Europe, sending tremors across all great empires. Drawing attention to the interesting social consequences of these revolutions, Ortaylı explained that Dr. Abdullah Hammerschmidt, who escaped Austria due to the revolution and took refuge in the Ottoman Empire and eventually was converted to Islam, was one of the founders of the Turkish Red Crescent Society (Kızılay).

The theme of the second conference given at Vienna branch of Yunus Emre Institute on Wednesday, March 6, was "Reign of Abdulhamid II and its Effects on Europe." Ortaylı pointed out that Sultan Abdulhamid II had a chance to visit Europe during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz and what he did in political and social was still influential in our time. Touching on sub-topic of students sent to Europe, relations with European countries and monitoring technical developments in Europe, Ortaylı indicated that Abdulhamid II was an important personality in our time whom we should asses free from political debates.

At the end of the conference, Ortaylı answered questions, signed his books and chatted with the participants.