Sefaretname-i Buhara: Translation and analysis of historical and political report

In 1843, during Qajar times, because of the political relations between Qajar and Bukhara Khanates, by order of Mohammad Shah, Abbas Goli Han, the ambassador who was sent to Bukhara, started to write "Sefaretnâme-i Buhârâ". In the mentioned Sefaretnâme, the writer relates historical events of the time to the political events. Hence, issues related to Turkistan Khanate and specially the ruling time of Emir Nasrullah in Bukhara Khanate are considered in this work. In the first part of this thesis, in addition to detailed information about Sefaretnâme, the reason for writing this work is explained comprehensively. Also the travelogues about Turkistan are analyzed comparatively. In the second part of my thesis I have discussed Qajar and Turkistan Khanates. In addition to particularly detailed explanations about Mohammad Shah times, I have discussed generally political and religious issues between two mentioned reigns during the times Sefaretnâme-i Buhârâ had been written. Above all I have mentioned the plans that England and Russia – two countries that played an important role in fates of two mentioned reigns – had for Turkistan region. After discussion of the main topics, "Turkistan", "Bukhara", "Tourists who visited Turkistan", and "Slavery in Turkistan", I have discussed political status of that time. In the third part of my thesis I have translated Sefaretnâme-i Buhârâ for the first time; translation is from Persian to Turkish. I have also discussed cultural, religious and political features of the society of Bukhara by using some information that were given in Sefaretnâme-i Buhârâ. The geographical and ethnic knowledge of the writer about Turkistan region is also explained. At the ending part of the thesis in addition to some information about Dr. Joseph Wolff, who is the main reason we have access to Sefaretnâme-i Buhârâ now; I have mentioned his near death experience in Bukhara. Generally, in addition to shedding light on some unknown issues of the time; I have determined the historical time that Sefaretnâme-i Buhârâ was written in and its writer – that were unknown before.