Avrupalı Seyyahların Bakış Açısından Osmanlı’da Kitap Ve Kütüphane Kültürü (1453-1699)

Abstract

Besides the use of Ottoman sources, the use of Western sources is also an important issue in Ottoman book and library culture researches. Especially in the period of 1453-1699, there are very few studies that utilize Western sources on Ottoman book and library culture. For this reason, Ottoman book and library culture researches related to this period are lacking. Primary sources have major importance in historical researches. One of the most important of primary Western sources on Ottoman history is travelogues. Because travelogues provide information and findings based on observations in relation to period of concern. Although travelogues are used as sources in many studies in the Ottoman history area, their use in Ottoman book and library culture is inadequate. In our study aiming at the inadequacy of this issue, it was determined that 122 Western travelers had observations about the subjects around the Ottoman book and library culture, and that they reflect these observations in writing to their travelogues or works. The subjects most interested and observed by these travelers are related to printing, book trade, spoken and written language. Apart from this, travelers have made many observations about copying books, physical characteristics of books, main purposes of books, respect for the book as a physical objects, book reading places and libraries. As a result of our research, the problem of the inadequate sources of the period of concern, and the inadequacy of the Western sources have been resolved appropriate to the aim of the study and the observations have been passed and evaluated, using all the physically accessible works of the travelers.