A Review on Primary Sources Used in Writing Ottoman Diplomatic History and the Methodological and Diplomatics Techniques in Analyzing These Sources

Diplomacy is an art of managing international relationships and refers to the techniques and principles applied by a state in its relationships with other states. Like any state having existed throughout history, the Ottoman Empire adopted some distinctive diplomatic activities from its foundation to its collapse, as well. Analysis and determination of those activities has properties to enlighten internal structure and other political, social, cultural and economic development processes of the Ottoman Empire, foreign policy in particular. In this respect, it is highly important to use the sources related to the period and know the techniques to follow in use of those sources in searching and writing the diplomatic history of Ottoman Empire. Analyzing the treaties, imperial letters and ambassadorial reports, which are first hand sources concerning Ottoman diplomacy, and border restriction reports and other secondary works in a chronological and methodological manner will make significant contributions to diplomacy studies as well as help to transfer the deep heritage left by the Ottoman Empire to next generations. Herein, our study is prepared for this objective and our main objective is to determine the diplomatic and methodological techniques to follow in using the sources which direct diplomatic history of Ottoman Empire and writing this history