TURKISH IMAGE IN EASTERN CLASSICS

With the utilization of writing, not only history but writing accumulation ,too, commenced. Eastern societies, especially Chinese, Indians, and Persians made a serious amount of literary and philosophical contributions to humanity by forming writing accumulations. In parallel with the formation of Islamic civilization, the societies which are accepted as Islamic populace fell under the societies with writing accumulations. Muslims, besides translating works that belong to ancient civilizations, formed an original and rich corpus. This accumulation of writings created by Asian societies, mainly Islamic societies, was later named Eastern Classics. Eastern Classics, although mainly mystical and literary works, consist of travelogues, advisories, political treatises, and legends (menakibname). Turkish statemen also made crucial contributions to writing of these types of works. There is noteworthy information in Eastern Classics about the Turks’ typology, ethics, belligerency, heroism, the justice of the Turkish statesmen, Sultans’ protection of artists, the beauty of Turkish ladies, the manners of their slaves and servants etc. In this article, we will seek for the answers to the questions such as “What kind of information was given on Turks in these sources?”, “What is the role and influence of Turkish statesmen in the writing of such books?” and “What kind of impression did the Turks leave in Middle Age?”