Founding Cities: Bursa and Florence
FOUNDING CITIES: BURSA AND FLORENCE
At first glance, it may seem strange to talk about the historical similarities between Classical Ottoman Bursa and Renaissance Florence, which were very different in terms of history, religion, society and culture, as well as in their political and administrative structures.
Workshop Conductors
Prof. Aynur Atmaca Can, Dr. Funda Budak
Goals
The aim is to determine the similarities and differences in the development of these cities by comparing the state traditions, production styles, trade relations, wealth levels and urban structures in Classical Ottoman Bursa and Quattrocento1 Florence.
Objectives
The aim is to share the knowledge and interpretations that will come out of the research and discussion of Bursa, the preamble of the Ottoman Empire, and Florence, the Queen of Italy, with their unequal positions based on social, cultural backgrounds and political differences.
Significance and Rationale
At first glance, it may seem strange to talk about the historical similarities between Classical Ottoman Bursa and Renaissance Florence, two cities with distinct historical, religious, social and cultural differences and different political and administrative structures. However, the fact that they started with a founding history, the role they played in the creation of a world empire and civilization, and the development of their cultural identities in the respective periods are criteria that can be evaluated when comparing the two cities. Another important fact that brings the destinies of these cities closer together is the fact that they established commercial and diplomatic relations that spread to many regions in the east and west of the Mediterranean basin. Considering the geographical and technical difficulties of the time, diplomatic merchants, who today we can characterize without hesitation as unsung heroes, traveled in caravans from India to Tabriz, Tokat, Aleppo and Alexandria from the 14th century. They reached Bursa, which would connect them first to Italy and then to northern Europe.
Venetian, Genoese and Florentine merchants, on the other hand, bought silk, spices, pearls, etc. from the markets of Bursa in exchange for high quality woolen fabrics and precious metals such as gold and silver through their representative offices in Pera, first during the Byzantine period and then during the Ottoman period. The privileges granted by the Ottoman Empire in the form of capitulations and the records in Bursa’s qadi (Ottoman judge) registers and customs mukataas show that Bursa’s political and commercial relations, first with Venice and Genoa and then with Florence, continued to be intense in the post-Byzantine period. The wealth generated by trade, from the exchange of information to the exchange of goods, created privileged conditions for the rulers and inhabitants of these cities that would last for centuries. The period witnessed changing power relations, population growth, and physical transformation in both cities. This study is based on the identification of Bursa and its relationship with Florence. The information filtered through a comparative study of the founding cities with their spatial, social and economic contexts will be a reference source that can be used in solving today’s urban and planning problems.
Target Audience
The information and interpretations obtained as a result of the workshop will not only make an original contribution to the literature, but will also be of theoretical and practical use to researchers, students, academics and city managers working in the field of urban and local government.
Methodology
The sites will be analyzed based on a comparative evaluation in terms of their similarities and differences through source scanning, creating a visual archive, and on-site observation, recording, and visualization.
Implementation Steps
The first phase is the first workshop meeting in Bursa on May 18-19, 2017. This phase, which will include on-site identification, local archival research, and collection of visual materials, will take place with the participation of workshop facilitators Prof. Aynur Atmaca Can and Dr. Funda Budak.
The second phase will be held on June 13, 2017 at 10:30-13:00 at Otag-i Humayun, Davutpasa Campus of Yildiz Technical University in Esenler with an active workshop meeting consisting of speeches and discussions open to the participants. This presentation will be accompanied by the speech of Prof. Suraıya Faroqhi and the topic will be discussed with the workshop coordinators Prof. Aynur Atmaca Can, Dr. Funda Budak, Prof. Ebru Erdonmez Dincer, Assoc. Dr. Murat Senturk, Assoc. Dr. Ali Cancelik, PhD student Semanur Celikbag Ekinci.
On September 30 – October 2, 2017, a study trip to Florence will be organized with the participation of the workshop coordinators. The trip is open to workshop participants and members of the Scientific Board of Prof. Sadettin Okten City Thinking Center upon request.
The fourth stage will be held on October 30, 2017 at Esenler Kadir Topbas Culture and Arts Center, where a presentation program will be held to share the information and comments from the workshop.
The last step will be completed on November 30, 2017 with the delivery of the prepared information and materials to Esenler Prof. Sadettin Okten City Thinking Center to be published as a book.
Attendees
Persons Areas Titles
Prof. Aynur Can Article and Book Editing Founding Cities: Bursa and Florence
Dr. Funda Budak Article and Book Editing Founding Cities: Bursa and Florence
Semanur Celikbag Ekinci (PhD student) Article
Prof. Suraiya Faroqhi Speech text editing
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebru Erdonmez Dincer
Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Senturk
Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Cancelik
Dissemination of Workshop Results
Two workshops will be disseminated through a presentation program and a book publication.
