Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Entering the field
- 3 Locating Ottoman sources
- 4 Rural life as reflected in archival sources: selected examples
- 5 European sources on Ottoman history: the travellers
- 6 On the rules of writing (and reading) Ottoman historical works
- 7 Perceptions of empire: viewing the Ottoman Empire through general histories
- 8 Conclusion
- References
- Index
6 - On the rules of writing (and reading) Ottoman historical works
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 November 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Entering the field
- 3 Locating Ottoman sources
- 4 Rural life as reflected in archival sources: selected examples
- 5 European sources on Ottoman history: the travellers
- 6 On the rules of writing (and reading) Ottoman historical works
- 7 Perceptions of empire: viewing the Ottoman Empire through general histories
- 8 Conclusion
- References
- Index
Summary
DELINEATING THE TOPIC
In the present chapter we will deal with literary texts in the broadest sense of the word. By the definition used here, the term ‘literary’ will denote texts either written for the edification and enjoyment of a limited number of readers, more or less known to the author, or for the eyes of an anonymous public. This means that we are concerned with texts intended for publication. But since in the Ottoman world, the printing press did not come into widespread use before the nineteenth century, the term ‘publication’ is also in need of clarification. Writers and potential writers met in ‘salons’ (meclis) where they might read their works or informally show their manuscripts to their colleagues (Fleischer, 1986, pp. 22–3), one of the major disadvantages which women needed to overcome being their lack of access to such sessions. Presenting one's work at a literary gathering should be regarded as a form of publication, comparable to the reading of a paper at a scholarly conference in our day. But as a more developed form of publication it was customary to have an elaborate presentation copy prepared. This was handed over to an influential patron, such as the Sultan himself, a vizier, or, at least in the eighteenth century, a princess of the imperial family. The recipient was expected to make the author a gift, usually the only direct remuneration the latter might expect. From the reign of Bayezid II (r. 1481–1512) onwards, registers of gifts made by the Sultan have survived; they mention a number of poets whose works must have been brought to the attention of the ruler (Erünsal, 1977–79).
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- Information
- Approaching Ottoman HistoryAn Introduction to the Sources, pp. 144 - 173Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1999