Istanbul's Sayfiye Areas in the Period 1851-1923: Cultural and Urban Dynamics of Transformation

Abstract

& Idot;stanbul, respected for its geostrategic value and richly woven historical fabric, comes on too strong with its fame as one of the megacity centres on the global stage. Throughout history, specifically during the summer months, & Idot;stanbul's sayfiye and its surroundings have provided a peaceful shelter for the city's residents by ensuring a significant balance required forthe hectic nature of the city. These areas have also played an important role in order to shape the city's social norms by encouraging sociological harmony and making the cultural exchange easier. This study aims to study the evaluation of the historical and spatial dynamics among the socio-cultural changes of & Idot;stanbul's sayfiye areas during this period. The paper, while expanding through 1923 starting from the Byzantine, makes emphasis on improving the sayfiye areas between 1851 and 1923 by relying on the profound sources to illuminate the sayfiye places' real place in & Idot;stanbul's urban transformation. Besides, it studies in detail how the sayfiye culture affected the lifestyles, social and cultural structure of people who live in & Idot;stanbul. In the introduction, the context between & Idot;stanbul and the term sayfiye has been studied by explaining the true meaning and the history of the term. In the first chapter, an analysis of the roots of the term sayfiye and its evolution through & Idot;stanbul has been conducted, and the effects on the socio-cultural structure of this term have been researched. In the second chapter, the historical development of & Idot;stanbul's sayfiye areas has been systematically discussed from the Byzantine Period to 1923, when the Republic of Turkey was founded and particularly focused on the data acquired between 1851 and 1923. In the last chapter of the paper, based on the findings obtained, a general assessment of the effects of & Idot;stanbul's sayfiye culture on urban and social structure is presented.