10 Greatest Travelers who visited Asia Minor
10- Charles Texier (1839)
A French archeologist and traveler. He was born in Versailles at 1802 and died in 1871 in Paris. He visited Turkey two times in 1833 and 1843 respectively.
Places visited: Asia Minor and the Middle East.
Most important Discoveries: Hattuşaş, the Capitol of Hittite Empire was his most important discovery. He, then introduced Hattuşaş to the World.
Scope of his Works: Although he was an archeologist. He dealt with the history, archeology, geology and geography as well. He published number of significant works involving personal travels throughout Asia Minor. These books included maps and reports generally. His studies is important sources for ancient Anatolian Cultures.
Their works were translated by Ali Suat Bey from French to Arabic (1869-1932). Afterwards, the Arabic version was translated from Arabic to Turkish by comparing its original Franch version by Doç. Dr. Musa Yıldız.
His Books: As a result of his travels, he published the two-volume Description de l'Asie Mineure faite par ordre du Gouvernement français, Minor Asia.
9- Victor Fontanier (1832)
A French chemist and traveler. He was born in Cantal in 1796. At 1821, he was sent to İstanbul, Turkey, by French Government. His first travel to the East was started on 1822 until 1829 with the order of French Government.
Places visited: İstanbul, Odessa, Caucasus, Bakü, Persia, Erivan (Armenia), Baghdad, Georgia and East Pontus Region. Trabzon-Erzurum and Trabzon-Georgia Lines.
He did not followed the paths explored before him. This feature makes him important and unique.
Fontainer was appointed as ambassador to Trabzon. However, the aim of Fontainer for his trips was most probably to explore the trade possibilities in East Region and to observe the political and administrative situation of that region. Another reason might to decrease the power of England and Russia at that region.
8- Pierre Jarôme Dupré (1803)
A French traveler. He came to Trabzon in 1803 and lived there for seventeen years until his death in 1820.
He was appointed as commercial audit in Trabzon region. His main aim was to enhance the French-Turkish trade by observing the opportunities and potential of the region.
Places visited: Trabzon.
He lived nearly 17 years in Trabzon city. Therefore, he described the region quite detailed considering political, demographical, administration issues besides the commercial topics.
7- Katib Çelebî (1732)
A Turkish historian and geographer, (1609, İstanbul - 1657, İstanbul) he is regarded as one of the most productive authors of non-religious, scientific literature in the 17th-century Ottoman Empire.
His Books: He was hard-working writer and a good observer. His famous studies are Cihannüma and Fezleke which are important travel notes. He was good at Latin, Arabic and Persian Languages besides Turkish.
Places visited: Minor Asia, Erzurum, Diyarbakır, Tokat, Mosoul, Aleppo.
6- Evliyâ Çelebî (1640):
Evliya Çelebi, the writer of the greatest traveler and the greatest travel book of Turkish and world history, was born on 25 March 1611 in Istanbul. His father was Dervish Mehmed Zillî Efendi who is the jewelry master in Ottoman Palace. His ancestors were from Kütahya (a city in the Aegean Region Turkey). Moreover, his roots were reached to the, Hodja Ahmed Yesevi one of the greatest saint of the Turks according to his words of the Evliya Çelebi.
Evliya Çelebi learned not only good education but also Arabic and Persian, which are valid foreign languages of his time, and then learned Greek from his father's neighbor jeweler Simyon and learned some Latin lessons.
Because of his enthusiasm for traveling, he has enjoyed every opportunity to travel and has traveled all his life. In Greek, Arab and Acem, Sweden, Leh and Czech, 7 climatic and 18 sultan places have traveled for 51 years.
He has 10 volumes of travelnames with 4,000 pages of original text which is located in the Topkapı Palace Museum Library. Except them, Evliya Çelebi informs us that there is a work called Şakaname, however, until today, no trace has been found. All of what we know about Evliya Çelebi's life is their own. The 51 year trip has kept a lot of memos throughout his life and he has written about where he went, what he did and whom he saw. Which date and where he died could not be determined precisely. However, it is estimated that he died in 1685 in Egypt, where he lived in solitude.
His book included ten volume.
Visited Places: nearly every place in the Ottoman Empire borders, and Middle Europe; Austria, Holland, Germany and Denmark
5- İbn-Battuta (1330)
İbn-Battuta is a Magribi traveller and Second greatest traveller of all time just behind the Evliya Çelebi.
He was born in 1304 Tanca, Morroco and died in 1368. His roots came from Levate Tribe of Berberi people. Although, he was not specizalied sciences such as litreture, law, he visited a lot of country and learned too much.
He was the greatest traveller in Middle Ages. He travelled much more nations and states than Marco Polo. He travelled three continents and passed him. He travelled 73.000 miles.
Battuta mentioned about every detail in his observations. However, his main interesting area are reverends and religious memories and stories. Other topics coming after them. However, even if just a pinch he mentioned beliefs, clothes, demographic structure and architectural topics. Thus, he is accepted as early anthropologist and ethnologist. But, these aspects of Battuta are weaker than Evliya Çelebi.
Places visited: North Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Arabia, Iraq, Turkey, East Africa, Yemen, Iran, Turkey, Kırım, İstanbul, Middle Asia Turkish States, Afghanistan, India, China, Pakistan, Indian Islands, Spain and back to the Morroco.
His Books: Rıhle
4- Procopius Caesarensis (AD 500- AD 565)
He was Palestinian Byzantine historian.
It became the most important historian of the 6th century. Writes Justinian's Words, I. Justinian's Buildings and Hidden History. He is known as the last great historian of the ancient world.
The writings of Procopius are the main sources of information for the sovereignty of Emperor Justinianus I. Procopius, Eight books of history in the form of ebbs, describing the wars of Justinianus I. There is a book named Hidden History (Greek: Anecdote) which Justinianus tells about what he did in the Empire. In this book, Procopius tells the scandals that he cannot include in his "official history".
Travelled Places: Sassanid Empire in Mesopotamia, Syria, Armenia, Lazica and almost the present day in Georgia, İtaly.
3- Lucius Flavius Arrianus:
He was born in Nicomedia (İznik city in Modern Turkey). Roman historian, soldier and philosopher.
The most important source about Alexander the Great and his eastern expedition is the work of Alexander Campaign "Aleksandrou Anabasis" written by Arrianus. Arrianos often reiterates his appreciation of Alexander the Great even though he did not live in the time of Alexander. "Aleksandrou Anabasis" is written to make his name and his work known by future generations
This trip of Arrianus the intent is to inspect the Roman garrisons near Pontus. Nevertheless, Arrianus perceived this mission as a trip. Arrianus finds useful advice on expeditions to the Roman generals against nomads in his books.
Travelled Places: East Turkey,
His Books: Periplus of the Euxine Sea, Bithyniaca, Anabasis, Parthica, Enchiridion, Indica
2- Strabon (MS.20):
Strabo is the greatest geographer of the World History. His studies still are being used by people today. He was born in BC 63 in Amaseia (Amasya, Turkey). He had a wealthy family and thus, he could get a good education in his early life.
He did get philosophy and geography lessons. Strabo learned the geography from Tyrannion who was a famous geographer in his era.
Visited Places: Strabo has a visited numerous places between the borders of Armenia, Sardinia, Black Sea and Ethiopia in the south. However, he never visited Athens, although he went to Nile River and Egypt even. Indeed, Strabo mainly traveled the Asia minor.
1 1-Ksenephon ( M.Ö.400):
According to the Diogenes Laertios, Ksenephon was born between BC 430-BC425. His family was an aristocratic family in Athens and he did get education from Sokrates.
Visited Places: Upon his adventurer character, he visited a lot of countries with famous Spartan King Agesilaos. Ksenephon travelled Lydia, Phrygia, Cappadocia, Pontos and other Persian regions.
His famous book is Anabasis did tell the story of the Greek soldiers who did try to return to Greece from Asia Minor after the Kunaksa war.
References:
1-Strabon Geographika, Antik Anadolu Coğrafyası
2-Anabasis,
3-Nikomedialı Arrianus Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme. Sosyal Bilimler Araştırma Dergisi 4-(KOUSBAD) 6, Güz 2017, ss. 1-14. Günay KARAHAN
ARRIANUS’UN KARADENİZ SEYAHAT
6-İbn-Battuta Seyahatnamesi-YKY
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