Publication: Osmanlı dönemi kervansaraylarının sosyo-kültürel ve ekonomik fonksiyonları
Abstract
OSMANLI DÖNEMİ KERVANSARAYLARININ SOSYO-KÜLTÜREL VE EKONOMİK FONKSİYONLARI Çalışmamızda, Osmanlı Devleti’nin hüküm sürdüğü topraklarda kuruluşundan yaklaşık XIX. yüzyılın sonlarına kadar faaliyet gösteren kervansarayların sosyo-kültürel ve ekonomik fonksiyonlarının gün yüzüne çıkarılması hedeflenmiştir. Osmanlı döneminde şehirlerarası yollar üzerinde, gerek ticaret kafilelerinin gerekse bunlara katılan veya yalnız başlarına yolculuk yapan insanların her günkü seyahatinin akşamında hem kendilerinin dinlendikleri hem de hayvanlarını dinlendirip ertesi güne hazırlandıkları 35-40 km aralıklarla inşa edilen binalara kervansaray denilmektedir. Genel olarak kervanların barındıkları binalara han veya kervansaray denilmekte ise de terminolojide hanlar ve kervansaraylar birbirinden farklı yapılardır. Hanlar daha çok şehir içinde tüccar ve yolcuların konakladıkları ücretli işletmelerdir. Kervansaraylar ise şehirlerarasında ki uzun mesafeler ve ıssız yerlerde yapılmış, büyük bir çoğunluğu vakıf sistemi içinde işleyen konaklama yerleridir. Çalışmamızda, şehir içi hanlarını değil, şehirlerarası yollar üzerindeki tesisleri konu alınmıştır. Kervansarayların menşei hakkında çeşitli görüşler olmakla birlikte öncüsü olarak İslâm müessesesi olan Ribâtlar kabul edilmektedir. Yapılan araştırmanın sonucunda Osmanlı dönemi kervansaraylarının, başta tüccarların can ve mal emniyetini sağlayarak ülke ticaretinin sağlıklı bir şekilde yürümesini sağlamasının yanı sıra birçok fonksiyonunun olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Bunlar şehirlerarasındaki ıssız ve tenha güzergâhların kervansaray inşasıyla kısa sürede şehirleşmesi, yol ve yolcu emniyetinin sağlanmasıyla sivil ulaşımına katkı sağlaması, kervansaray civarına pazar veya panayır kurulmasıyla bölgenin ticaret merkezi haline gelme; buralarda konaklayan yabancı yolcular için Müslüman Türk kültürünün tanıtım merkezleri olmalarının yanı sıra kültürlerarası geçişliliğe hizmet etmesidir. Yukarıda saydığımız asıl fonksiyonlarından başka özellikle düşman taarruzunun olabileceği noktalara inşa edilen kervansaraylar, askeri fonksiyonlar üstlenmişlerdir. Ayrıca ülkeyi ziyaret eden elçilere ikametgâh olarak ayrılan kervansaraylar, resmi haberleşmede de kullanılmışlardır.
SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS OF CARAVANSERAIS OF OTTOMAN ERA In our study, the caravanserais had been operating from the establishment of the Ottoman state onward until the end of the XIX. century that fulfilled many socio-cultural and economic functions within the Ottoman territory aimed to uncover. During the Ottoman ages, people whether traveling alone as well as with trade convoys were resting in the evening and for the next day’s travel prepared to let stand the animals, the buildings constructed at intervals of 35-40 km is called the caravanserai. In general, the buildings where caravans had been accommodated called inn or caravanserai however inns and caravanserais belong to terminology of the different structures. The inns were for traders and passengers stayed mostly in the city from which they are paid. Whereas the caravanserais were built in the long distance and deserted places, a majority of them considered functioning within the Foundation System for the accommodation. Not the local inn, but the facilities on rural roads have been the subject of our study. Although there are various opinions about the origin of the caravanserais, the Ribats, an Islamic institution, has been regarded as the pioneer institution of the caravanserais. As a result of the research conducted on the caravanserais of the Ottoman period, particularly by ensuring the safety of life and property of traders which enabled healthy way of trade in the country did functioning in many respects that have been concluded. Among these, urbanization of the desolate and secluded areas in the long-distance routes in a short time where caravanserais built, by providing road and passenger safety contributed to civilian transportation, becoming the commercial center of the region with the establishment of markets or fairs in the vicinity of caravanserais can be mentioned. Additionally for foreign travelers who stayed there found the opportunity of recognition of the Muslim Turkish culture, in other words these caravanserais as if cultural centers served to cultural transitivity. Apart from the above-mentioned primary functions it is of particular importance that caravanserais were built in the enemy offensive points considering undertaking military functions. In addition, ambassadors who visited the country as a residence allotted caravanserais were also used in official communications.
SOCIO-CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS OF CARAVANSERAIS OF OTTOMAN ERA In our study, the caravanserais had been operating from the establishment of the Ottoman state onward until the end of the XIX. century that fulfilled many socio-cultural and economic functions within the Ottoman territory aimed to uncover. During the Ottoman ages, people whether traveling alone as well as with trade convoys were resting in the evening and for the next day’s travel prepared to let stand the animals, the buildings constructed at intervals of 35-40 km is called the caravanserai. In general, the buildings where caravans had been accommodated called inn or caravanserai however inns and caravanserais belong to terminology of the different structures. The inns were for traders and passengers stayed mostly in the city from which they are paid. Whereas the caravanserais were built in the long distance and deserted places, a majority of them considered functioning within the Foundation System for the accommodation. Not the local inn, but the facilities on rural roads have been the subject of our study. Although there are various opinions about the origin of the caravanserais, the Ribats, an Islamic institution, has been regarded as the pioneer institution of the caravanserais. As a result of the research conducted on the caravanserais of the Ottoman period, particularly by ensuring the safety of life and property of traders which enabled healthy way of trade in the country did functioning in many respects that have been concluded. Among these, urbanization of the desolate and secluded areas in the long-distance routes in a short time where caravanserais built, by providing road and passenger safety contributed to civilian transportation, becoming the commercial center of the region with the establishment of markets or fairs in the vicinity of caravanserais can be mentioned. Additionally for foreign travelers who stayed there found the opportunity of recognition of the Muslim Turkish culture, in other words these caravanserais as if cultural centers served to cultural transitivity. Apart from the above-mentioned primary functions it is of particular importance that caravanserais were built in the enemy offensive points considering undertaking military functions. In addition, ambassadors who visited the country as a residence allotted caravanserais were also used in official communications.