The perception of women in Yusuf Hâs Hâcib's Kutadgu Bilig and Nizâmü'l-Mülk's Siyâsetnâme

This thesis which aims to examine different aspects of women's life in pre-Islamic Turkish society through the role of female figures in the works called Kutadgu Bilig and Siyâsetnâme, examines the existence of women in pre-Islamic Turkish society, the female figures of Turkish mythology and epics, their place in the ancient Turkish religion and the social position of women. First chapter provides information about the richness of Turkish mythology and the legendary roles of women. Additionally, by discussing the fundamental role and influence of women in society, it helps to better understand the view of pre-Islamic Turkish society towards women. The second chapter focuses on the work called Kutadgu Bilig written by Yusuf Hâs Hâcib. In this section, the identity of Yusuf Hâs Hâcib, the importance of his work and the female figures in Kutadgu Bilig are emphasized. While the women of Kutadgu Bilig carry the moral and social messages of the work, the effects of women in the political arena are also discussed. The third chapter deals with the approach of the work called Siyâsetnâme and especially Nizâmü'l-Mülk. Siyâsetnâme is considered one of the basic texts of Islamic politics, and the influence of women on politics and their social role is an important issue in this work. This chapter helps to understand the position of women in Islamic politics by examining Nizâmü'l-Mülk's views on women and the depictions of women in Siyâsetnâme. This thesis aims to provide an important analysis to understand the evolution of women in Turkish history and their social impact in different periods. Comparing women's portraits and social roles in the pre-Islamic, medieval and post-Islamic periods helps to better understand this historical evolution.