Sinop at the Travelogues

43118

Seyahatname (Travelogue), consists of two words; “seyahat” in Arabic and “nâme” in Persian. Seyahatname in the broadest sense is the texts in which travelers and observers collect their impressions of a visited specific geographical area and/or information for a particular historical period. The definition of Seyyah (traveler) is not limited only to the foreign travelers but includes local observers who transfer their impressions for their own land also. Seyahatname’s are the transmitters of scientific and cultural advancements where communication facilities are limited. The seyahatname’s which has been written before 1453 and intended for Anatolia were the quotations of the eye witnesses of the crusaders or merchants who travelled from Anatolia to Asia. Seyahatname’s on the territory of the empire gains momentum after invading of Syria and Egypt by the Ottomans, increasing importance of east trade lines from Ottomans to India by the years of 1580’s, the rise of Ottomans as a political power and beginning of intensive relations with European countries. On the other hand, East means both the rich land where the others are living and the holy land where it’s believed that the Jesus was born and crucified. Traveling to east means returning to their self-essence. In this article, the seyahatnames, which has been written by eastern and western travelers coming to town beginning with 13th cent., after the Sinope captured by Turks are chronologically analyzed

257

Travelogue , Traveler , Sinope , Black Sea

Journal Of Graduate School Of Social Sciences

272

Journal Of Graduate School Of Social Sciences