Background of the birth of Turkish folklore studies

This study examines the historical, political, and intellectual background of the emergence and development of Turkish folklore studies. It focuses on the period from the mid-19th to the early 20th century, analyzing the political transformations of the Ottoman Empire, the Westernization process, and the impact of nationalism on the emergence of folklore studies. The study explores how the rise of nationalism and the Romantic movement in Europe influenced folklore research and how these developments shaped the intellectual discourse of Ottoman scholars. Key figures such as Şinasi, Ahmet Vefik Paşa, and Ziya Gökalp are analyzed for their contributions to the understanding of folklore as a means of national identity construction. Furthermore, the institutionalization of folklore studies in the late Ottoman period and their systematic expansion in the early Republican era are discussed. This research employs a historical methodology, utilizing written sources from the period, academic literature, and key works in folklore studies. The findings indicate that the development of Turkish folklore studies was closely linked to national identity construction and that it evolved into an academic discipline influenced by Western approaches.