The relations between the Ottoman Empire and China with climate changes in the Ming Period

The Ottoman Empire and the Ming Dynasty in China was the two greatest states and the most influential international power in the world in 16th-17th centuries. In spite of being geographic distance, relations between the Turks and Chinese that had begun from the ancient ages was being continued with the Ottoman and Ming Dynasties in this period. According to Ottoman sources such as "Khitaynameh" (Book of China) of Ali Akbar Khata'i and "Kitab-ı Tevarih-i Padişahan-ı Vilayet-i Hindu ve Hitây" (Book on Histories of the Rulers of the India and China) of Seyfî Çelebi as well as other Chinese sources, which belong to the Ming period like "Mingshi" (History of Ming), this thesis seeks some of principal historical events in the relations between the Ottomans and the Ming Chinese between the 16th century and 17th century. On the other hand, as randomly during 16th-17th centuries, both the Ottoman Empire and the Ming Dynasty suffered from the same troubles, including extreme colds, drought, locusts, epidemics and over rebellions. The troubles connected to the climate changes, that was known as Little Ice Age (LIA) not only played a role in the crisis of the Ottoman Empire but it also affected the collapse of the Ming Dynasty. Nowadays, while climate change is influencing on the life of humanity, it was really important to research on the effect of climate change on societies in the past too. Therefore, after studying the ecology of the Ottoman Empire and China in the Ming Dynasty, the thesis also analyzes the role of climate change in the social, economic and political crises of the Ottoman Empire and the Ming Dynasty.