A REFLECTION OF IDENTITY, CULTURE AND SOCIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE 17TH CENTURY ALBANIAN CITIES AS VIEWED IN "SEYAHATNAME"

Abstract

The Ottoman Empire underwent a series of radical changes throughout the 17th century. Evliya Celebi is one of the prominent figures of this century who also was a live witness to this transformation. His work therefore goes far beyond being an example of a travelogue, and needs acknowledgement as a colorful presentation of the empire's sociological history in the 17th century geographic setting. As an important traveller of the early modern age, Evliya Celebi sought to display daily life in Albania, along with its demographic characteristics and culture. He depicts Balkan cities as lively settings that rival their counterparts in Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt in economic wealth. Culturally, they are a good example of the impact of the center's tastes and preferences on the periphery. Meanwhile, Albania is an important center due to its commercial potential and geopolitical status in the Ottoman world.