Seljuk city structure on the axis of Farabi and İbn Khaldun: The example of Isfahan and Konya

The definition of a city varies by periods, and it still changes as the world continues developing and transforming. Philosophers tried to define cities of their own geographical areas and historical periods. Accordingly, definition of a city in today's world be; a living space that hosts economic opportunities, trade and industrialization, provides better educational opportunities, social activities and level of welfare that is densely populated by the consumer society. City history studies shed light on most areas of history. In particular, a city founded by a state, reflects traces about the culture and manner of civilization of the state, its social and religious structure, its economic power and many other aspects. For this reason, some scientists and philosophers have written works on the imagery of cities. In this study, Farabi and Ibn Khaldun's, who had important works on cities, approach to the concept of cities and the roles and importance in Great Seljuk Empire and Sultanate of Rum and the development of these cities were discussed. In this context, cities of Isfahan and Konya, which served as the capitals of these two states, were examined. In the first part of the study, the question of "What is a city?" has been tried to be answered and cities that developed between the periods of ancient Turkic states and the Great Seljuk Empire and Sultanate of Rum have been studied. The importance and features of these cities were focused on. In the second part, the approaches of Farabi and Ibn Khaldun to the imagery of cities, which are the basis of the study, and how the characteristics of the societies that make up these cities and their governments should act, and what should be taken into account when building a city were discussed. In the third part of the study, the cities of Isfahan and Konya, which have been the capitals of the Seljukian states for long years, were examined. The importance of these two cities for the Seljuks, the characteristics of the cities and their development processes in the Seljuk period, and the Seljuk monuments in these cities were studied. KEYWORDS: City, Seljuks, Farabi, Ibn Khaldun, Isfahan, Konya.