The Turkish newspaper titled "Ziya" of the Caucasus in Tsarist Russia (1879)

Ziya newspaper, began to be published on 25 January 1879, with the aim of enlightening the Turks and Muslims of the Caucasus, was published under "Ziya" name until 26 June 1880. The newspaper was continued to be published in Tbilisi, the cultural capital of the Caucasus. The researchers of Soviet period had the view that the Ziya newspaper was only about Islamic issues, and the newspaper was perceived like this. The newspaper along with religious issues also covered the misinterpretation of religion and criticism of its harms. For this reason, Said Unsizade worked for the development of the people of the region by showing developed countries and peoples as examples. The newspaper also followed the developments in the world and published the relevant news in the foreign news section. Internal and external news published in the newspaper are important for historians and researchers. Ziya newspaper, which had a rich content, also included social developments in its issues. This kind of news is great importance to learn about the social structure and situation of the period. The contributions of Said Unsizade, the founder of Ziya newspaper, one of the important intellectuals of the period, to the cultural life constituted the other important subject of the thesis. The main source of the thesis was the 1879 issues of Ziya newspaper. However, in order to explain the information given in the newspaper in more detail, the Prime Minister's Ottoman Archives, some books and newspapers related to the subject of the thesis were also used.