A Short History of Turkish Architecture

Turkish history has deep roots, stretching back to 3000 BC and sustained through various Turkic tribes across the vast geography of Central Eurasia. It is known that Turks were not solely a nomadic community; alongside their "mobile lifestyle," they also adopted semi-sedentary and sedentary ways of life. These lifestyles played a decisive role in architectural production and spatial culture.

A Brief History of Turkish Architecture is a concise yet comprehensive work based on Yaşar Çoruhlu's academic studies, primarily focused on Inner and Central Asia for over 30 years, and the accumulated knowledge from his research trips in Central Asia and Turkey. The book explains, with examples, the historical and cultural context in which Turkish architecture emerged, and how Turks spread across the Central Eurasian geography from Inner Asia starting from pre-Christian eras.

The work evaluates the fundamental components in the formation process of Turkish architecture within the framework of geography, belief systems, social structure, and cultural continuity. The main lines of Turkish architectural history are presented by examining the developmental trajectory, from early structural traditions to examples of settled architecture, within its historical context.

For Whom?

• Architecture and art history students
• Researchers interested in Turkish cultural history and Central Asian studies
• Academics working in the fields of archaeology and structural history
• Readers who want to learn about the origins of Seljuk, Ottoman, and early Turkish architecture
• Those seeking a reliable introductory resource to the history of Turkish architecture