According to European traveler's books West Turkestan Khanates in 19th century

ivABSTRACTACCORDING TO EUROPEAN TRAVELER?S BOOKS WEST TURKESTANKHANATES IN 19th CENTURY(Alexander BURNES, Arminius VÁMBÉRY, Eugene SCHUYLER)Gülay KARADAĞDepartmant of HistoryAfyon Kocatepe University, The Institute of Social SciencesJune 2006Advisor: Associate Prof. Dr. H. Mustafa ERAVCIIn this study, West Turkestan Khanates were dealt with political, social andcultural characteristics in 19th century and investigated according to travel?s books,chronicle and research books. Travel?s books were restricted to works of AlexanderBurnes, Arminus Vámbéry and Eugene Schuyler. It is about geographic and ethniccharacteristics of the region in first chapter of the study that was decided as fivechapters. It was mentioned khanates? political structures, West Turkestan?s importantcities and social and cultural elements of the region in other chapters while itinvestigates the travelers and the characteristics of their works in the second chapter.As a result of this study, it was observed that The West Turkestan Khanetes hasbeen ruled by Uzbek dynasties, was struggling with enemies within and out of theborders. Although The West Turkestan Khanetes were powerful in the first 19th century,vthey lost their independence in the second half of 19th century. Nevertheless we can saythat West Turkestan cities, which had commercial and cultural importance from theperiod of history BC., were standstilled in the 19th century. A possible evidence can bethat the population in the region and welfare has declined in this period. One reason forthis structure of cities in the region was plunders of Turkmen and Kirghiz. Apart fromthis reason and tough geographical conditions, European travelers faced difficulty intraveling in the region. Therefore, the curiosity for West Turkestan cities, which arethought to be mystic and unreachable in the eye of Europeans, increased. It can be saidthat The West Turkestan Khanates was not kept up with social and cultural developmentof Europe and protected their conservative structures because of the inhibition ofKhanates? rulers.