The city life in Anatolia Seljuk Empire?s center cities of Konya and Kayseri

Although Turkish civilization has existed across Asia and incorporated elements of many diverse cultures, the central Asian essence has always been preserved. As each successive Turkish state first thrived and eventually declined, the mantle of Turkish civilization was continually passed forward and the Turkish peoples continued their cultural development. As the Great Seljuk State declined, the Anatolian Seljuks entered the historical stage. Anatolia became the heartland of the new state and the cities of Anatolia, many of which had histories stretching far into antiquity, were transformed by their new Seljuk rulers. Konya was chosen as the Anatolian Seljuk capital and played a major role in subsequent historical events. In addition to its geopolitical importance, Konya became a center for literature, philosophy, science, art, and religion, especially mystical Sufism. On the other hand, Kayseri, which had been a center of civilization since the Bronze Age, also attracted the attention of the Seljuks. This thesis seeks to systematically compare and contrast these two cities which were of unparalleled significance to the Seljuk state.I chose to research the complete city life of Konya and Kayseri because no existing source comprehensively covers the subject. I aim to present a unified picture of life in these cities, including political, religious, social, and economic life, and to incorporate these aspects into the historical narrative. I feel that this comprehensive picture will fill in many gaps in our understanding of early Turkish history in Anatolia.This thesis is comprised of an introduction and four sections. The introduction includes the history of the two cities as well as their names and changes to those names over the ages. In addition, the introduction places the cities within their geographical surroundings. The first section explores the establishment of Turkish government in Konya and Kayseri and includes an explanation of the system of government in the two cities. The second section explores the demographics and public works in the cities. The third section focuses on economic and social life, and the fourth section intellectual and religious activity, including the important role of Sufism in Seljuk society.This thesis attempts to collect and explicate information from a wide range of disparate sources. The sources are limited both in their quantity and their availability. Certain aspects of Seljuk city life, in particular its social aspects, have never before been dealt with comprehensively, and even a cursory review of our subject headings will reveal many topics for which academic evidence is rare or nonexistent. We feel that our endeavor has been a success and that this thesis contributes to a greater understanding of Anatolian Seljuk city life.