Abstract
SELJUKS PERİOD OF KIRŞEHİR: ECONOMİC AND SOCİAL STRUCTURE AND TRACES OF AKHİSM
Kırşehir lived its glorious period in the Seljuk period as an important trade center. That period was the time when Ahi Evran, Hacı Bektaş, Mevlana, Baba İlyas lived in Anatolia. In this respect, The presence and the activities of great number of scientists in the area is a good evidence to prove that Seljuc people gave great importance to the science and literature. However, the attacks of Mogols on the Seljuc reign caused a lost in authority in Anatolia for a certain period of time. These prominent people carried on their activities to keep the Türkmen people together and to keep their spirituality high. The establishment of the Ahilik happened at the same time when the Mogol attacks started to Anatolia. Ahilik whose principles based on morality was established by Ahi Evran. The institution was first established as small scale- retailer and it also organized the economical life in Anatolia. The small city of Kirsehir in central Anatolia, is considered as the center of Ahilik. However, the acceptance of Ahi Evran's living in Kırşehir, it is quite surprising that the signs of the Debbahlık were so little. . Despite this,the presence a place still called Tannery in the city is considered as a sign that such a profession was carried on the city. However, many interesting developments occured in Seljuk period and the city was invaded by many civilizations. For such a reason, it was found worthy to investigate the economic and social structure of the city in the Seljuk period.
Keywords
Kırşehir, Economic History, Seljuk Period, Akhism, Fütüvvet, Ottoman State.
