Religious and social institutions in Anatolia according to Ibn Battûta Travel

Considered the greatest Muslim traveler of the Middle Ages, Ibn Battuta's travels at the beginning of the 14th century lasted about twenty-eight years. Ibn Battuta, who traveled almost all of the Islamic world, gave very important information in his work in terms of reflecting the lifestyle, thoughts, culture and civilization of the people in the Anatolian geography, where he came in 1333. Ibn Battuta took a photograph of 14th century Anatolia in many aspects. Ibn Battuta, who came to the Anatolian geography at a time when Islam was spreading rapidly, conveyed his observations about lodges and zawiyas, which were the reasons that accelerated Islamization. In this study, information about Anatolian lodges and zaviyes was discussed and evaluated in the travel book of Ibn Battuta. In this study, it is aimed to examine the effect and contribution of dervish lodges and zaviyes to the religious, scientific, social, economic, cultural, political and military structure of the Anatolian people. Considering the possibilities of the age in which Ibn Battuta traveled, he conveyed very important information in terms of our civilization and history during his journeys under very difficult conditions. The contribution of the dervish lodges and lodges established even in the most remote corners of Anatolia to the strengthening of the Anatolian people in this geography, their rapid Islamization, the increase of the education level of the people and their development has been revealed. As a result of the research, the multifaceted effects of dervish lodges and zawiyas on Anatolian society were revealed.