The impact of cabinets of curiosities on the circulation of knowledge

This thesis examines the role of cabinets of curiosities, which became more prominent and systematized in Europe between the 16th and 17th centuries, within the broader context of the circulation of knowledge. These cabinets are considered private collection spaces where natural and artificial objects are displayed and as early pioneers of museums in terms of knowledge production, classification, and transmission. The study investigates the historical development, structural features, and classification methods of cabinets of curiosities while analyzing the practice of collecting through cultural, epistemological, and representational perspectives. Alongside European examples, reflections from the Ottoman geography are also discussed. The main objective of this research is to demonstrate that cabinets of curiosities were not merely aesthetic or prestigious spaces, but rather functioned as material culture objects and spatial networks enabling the circulation of knowledge. This qualitative research employs a historically grounded textual analysis method and presents a comparative evaluation based on primary and secondary sources. The findings suggest that cabinets of curiosities played a transitional role in the institutionalization of scientific thought and the emergence of modern museology.