The urbanization corridor in anatolia during the seljuk period

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify the focal point of the Anatolian urban network and transportation system during the Seljuk period, which is called the Seljuk urbanization corridor. In other words, the paper examines the Anatolian urban network and transportation system of the center of urban agglomeration throughout the process called Seljuk urbanization, extending from the beginning of the 12th century to the end of the 13th. The methodology of this paper is based on an analytical process composed of three stages. Firstly, the criteria to be used to define the center of gravity of the urban network and transportation system in Anatolia were determined. In this context, five criteria were determined: the number of caravanserais or khans focused on inter-regional trading activities, the monumental public service buildings as relating with the social-cultural activities such as madrasas or hospitals, the density of urban economic activities depending on the tax records relating with urban budget, the spatial and demographical size of the cities, and also, the functional characteristic of the cities depending on their geographical positions in the urban network and transportation system. The second stage was to analyze in detail each criterion in numerical density values terms as depending on the data obtained from the written historical manuscripts and archaeologicalarchitectural findings. Finally, the spatial distribution in the Anatolian urban network as depending on data relating to the numerical density values transferred on to the maps was determined. In the methodological framework, the Seljuk urban network and transportation system were examined by using criteria made up of five parts: the density of building activities relating to the productiondistribution system, the potential of economic activities or budgets, spatial and demographical sizes and also, functional identities. As result of this examination, it was stated that the caravan route extending along the cities of Konya, Kayseri and Sivas were the most developed or advanced urban agglomeration called “the urbanization corridor in Anatolia during the Seljuk Era.” In this context, Konya was made the seat of Seljuk Sultans as the capital city. Sivas together with Konya were the most populated and also, the largest cities of Anatolia in terms of demographical and spatial size. Also, Sivas was labeled as the major cultural center of Anatolia in order to have the maximum number of “madrasas”. Aksaray, which was located on the intersection of inter-regional trading routes extending from the northwest or northeast to the southeast or southwest, functioned as the logistic center of Anatolia. Finally, Kayseri became the second capital city together with Konya of the Anatolian Seljuks where the most populous Sultanate Palace of the Seljuks was built (after Felek-abad in Konya) by Aladdin Kayqubad. © 2015, Ahmet Yesevi University. All rights reserved.