Abstract:
This article examines the historical geography of Kurdistan through Ottoman imperial documents, military textbooks, and scholarly works from the 16th to 19th centuries. The research demonstrates how Kurdistan was officially recognized and documented within Ottoman administrative and educational materials.
Author: Bedel Boseli, Kurdish History Specialist
Introduction:
The historical geography of Kurdistan has been subject to various interpretations throughout history. This study presents primary source evidence from Ottoman imperial documents to establish the historical boundaries and administrative recognition of Kurdistan during the Ottoman period.
Key Historical Sources:
- Evliya Çelebi's Account (1611-1685):
- Documented Kurdistan as "a great country" in his Seyahatname
- Described boundaries extending from Erzurum in the north to Basra in the south
- Noted the presence of 6,000 Kurdish tribes serving as a natural barrier between Ottoman and Persian territories
- Ottoman Military Education Textbooks (1893-1894):
The Ottoman military geography textbook "Coğrafyayi Osmani" by Ahmed Cemal listed the following provinces within Kurdistan:
- Erzurum Province (including Bayburt, Erzincan, Antep, Ağrı)
- Diyarbakir Province
- Van Province
- Bitlis Province
- Mosul Province (including Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah)
- Independent Sanjak of Zor
- Administrative Recognition:
Ottoman official documents consistently referenced Kurdistan as a distinct geographical entity with specific administrative divisions:
- Mosul Vilayet: Including modern-day Zakho, Duhok, Erbil, Kirkuk
- Diyarbakir Vilayet: Including Mardin, Nusaybin, Cizre
- Van Vilayet: Including Hakkari region
- Bitlis Vilayet: Including Muş, Siirt
- Scholarly Documentation:
The first Ottoman Encyclopedia (Kamus-ul Alam) by Şemseddin Sami (1896) explicitly identified cities like Kirkuk as being within Kurdistan, providing demographic information such as:
- Three-quarters Kurdish population in Kirkuk
- Detailed administrative boundaries
- Clear geographical designations
Historical Significance:
The Ottoman Empire's official recognition of Kurdistan as a distinct geographical and administrative region demonstrates the historical continuity of Kurdish presence and administration in these territories. Military textbooks, administrative documents, and scholarly works consistently referenced Kurdistan as a defined geographical entity with specific boundaries and administrative divisions.
Conclusion:
The extensive documentation in Ottoman imperial sources provides clear evidence of Kurdistan's historical geography and its recognition within the Ottoman administrative system. These primary sources offer valuable insights into the historical status of Kurdistan and its relationship with the Ottoman Empire.
Keywords: Kurdistan, Ottoman Empire, Historical Geography, Evliya Çelebi, Ottoman Administrative Divisions, Kurdish History, Historical Documentation
Note: This article is based on primary Ottoman sources and official documents, providing an academic perspective on the historical geography of Kurdistan during the Ottoman period.
References:
- Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatname (Volume 10)
- Ottoman Military Geography Textbook (1893) by Ahmed Cemal
- Kamus-ul Alam by Şemseddin Sami (1896)
- Ottoman Administrative Records (1876-1909)
Author: Bedel Boseli