The Ottoman period in Algeria (1516-1830) is considered one of the most outstanding phases in national history, covering both modern and contemporary times. During these three centuries, Algeria gained international prominence and established a new political and administrative organization. The debate is still revolving around this historical period and the discrepancy in analyses and judgments between researchers and historians is primarily due to the linguistic difference in archival reference sources as well as the temporal and historical projections associated with the methodology of historical studies precisely. In response to this knowledge gap and conflicting views, the idea of establishing the first laboratory for studies and research in the Ottoman heritage in Algeria at the level of the University of Algiers 2 Abu al-Qasim Saadallah came in 2019.

Since its establishment, this laboratory aspires to study and publish everything related the tangible and intangible heritage of the Ottoman period in Algeria, primarily for readers, researchers, and students specialized in the field in the first place.  To this end, six teams concentrate on many fields: the diplomatic history of Ottoman Algeria, political and administrative organization, social and economic organization, thought, culture and the arts, the use of modern technologies to study this heritage and expand research to the Balkans and the Ottoman state to ensure comprehensive understanding of the Ottoman world, to which Algeria belonged. The laboratory also aspires to diversify its various scientific activities through study days, holding national and international forums, promote Algerian history and the efforts of its researchers through its digital platform, LERPOA that opens the way for cooperation with foreign researchers and research centers in the aforementioned specialization.  Within the framework of its activities, the laboratory also seeks to open up to its socio-economic environment by concluding partnership agreements on the one hand and proposing training courses for the study of archival documents of the Ottoman period, in Arabic, Ottoman, Spanish and English.

As a reminder, the laboratory publishes all research works in these languages in its journal titled: Algerian Review of Ottoman and Mediterranean Studies (AROMS), accredited by the Algerian Scientific Journal Platform (ASJP). The laboratory also provides its members and students with a specialized library on Ottoman history in Turkish. I am confident that the research teams will continue to meet the challenge of publishing and highlighting our country's Ottoman history, as they have since the laboratory's inception, contributing to its positive evaluation by the thematic agency for social sciences and humanities. I invite researchers and graduate students to participate in the center's activities to rewrite and publish Algeria's Ottoman history through archival documents and historical sources, adhering to scientific methodological principles.

Prof. Chakib Benafri