Abstract
Akhism in Some Historical Turkish Novels
Historical novel in Turkish literature begins to be seen under the influence of Romanticism trend during theTanzimat era (in the last quarter of the 19th century). This trend has continued until the present day by becoming more mature. In a historical novel, the subjects dealt with by the author are the important events in history and the personalities who have left their mark in history.
During the preparations made on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, historical Turkish novels were written. Among the subjects included in these novels were Ahi Evran, about whose life we have limited information, and the Ahi-order that completed its development in Anatolia as well as the culture created by this organization. The founder of the Ahi-order was Ahi Evran. He was regarded firstly as the master of tanners, and also the 32 societies of artisans and craftsmen in Anatolia. Akhism, a Turkish institution, is the name of the socio-economic structure that together with tradesmen, artisans and administrators regulated the life during the establishment of the Seljuk and Ottoman Empires.
In this study, the traces of the culture formed by the Ahi-order, which played an important role in the establishment and development of the Seljuk and Ottoman states and which began to be seen in Anatolia in the 13th century, will be examined by means of some Turkish historical novels. The novels examined are Fatih İstanbul Kapılarında, Osmanoğulları, Osman Gazi, Ovaya İnen Şahin, Kutludağ, Çatı, Konak, Osmancık and Devlet Ana. In these novels subjects like Akhism, the principles of the Ahi-order, the elders of the Ahi-order, the introduction to the Ahi organization, the customs and ceremonies of the Ahi-order, the clothes of the Ahi people will be discussed and evaluated.
Keywords
Akhism, Ahi Evran, history novel, culture, Tradesmen and Craftsmen.