Author
Kaya Unal, Zeynep
Publication Place
Hits University -
Hits University
Subject
Hittite Journal of Theology, 2024-04, Vol.23 (Religion and Geography), p.175-189
Type
Book
Language
ara,eng,tur
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Leitir Library
Library Asset ID
ISSN: 2757-6949, EISSN: 2757-6949, DOI: 10.14395/hid.1410999
Record ID
cdi_doaj_primary_oai_doaj_org_article_dbf2b0b612024686a146dabc4ee68445
Library Location
DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals
Notes
Muslim historians have tended to start their works from creation, which they accept as the beginning of history. In this way, the history of the universe was considered as the beginning of human history and was connected to the history of Islam along with the history of the prophets. Mes'ûdî is 4./10. In addition, in the 19th century, he introduced the geography of the world with its lands, seas and waters, and produced a text that discussed history almost simultaneously with the place in which it took place. This feature of the author made his name mentioned among geographers as well as Islamic historians. However, Mes'ûdî's approach to geography is quite different from that of a geography writer. The author evaluated historical geography together with geographical history. He carefully recorded how the earth, which he studied with its fauna and flora, affected human history, shaped societies and, in turn, how societies affected their environment. Mes'ûdî, who carried his research beyond the information he received from written sources, carefully examined and conveyed these features during his travels; He tried to clarify the issues he was curious about or had doubts about by negotiating with the locals, merchants and sailors. In this way, he put the information he obtained through observations and investigations ahead of written sources in some cases. In this way, he produced a human-centered history writing by dealing with human geography. This article aims to classify the effects that arise as a result of man's relationship with the geography of the earth, based on Mes'ûdî's explanation in his extant works Mürûcü'z-zeheb and et-Tenbîh ve'l-işrâf. Thus, cultural differences between societies regarding basic needs such as nutrition and shelter; In addition, the effects of activities such as domestication of animals and acclimatization of plants on human history will be determined as stated in the author's historiography. On this occasion, the contributions of considering geography as an element of historical narrative to the field of historiography will be stated, and it will be seen that Mes'ûdî's pioneering approach provides the opportunity to look at history from a different window. For this purpose, first of all, the description of the earth's position in the universe as conveyed in the author's works will be explained. While Mas'ûdî states that the world consists of four elements: fire, air, water and earth, in accordance with the dominant scientific approach of his age, he also points out the distance of the celestial bodies from these inferior materials of the sublunar world. He is also aware that the main factor in the formation of seasons on earth is the celestial bodies. When it comes to the author's description of the earth, it is seen that he is based on the kishver system of Iranian origin. Accordingly, the center of the earth is the climate of Bâbil/Iraq, the region where Mas'ûdî was born and spent the first years of his life. The settled geography of the world is depicted by six climates that encompass this climate. It is seen in the information he gives about the effect of geography on living life that Mes'ûdî is not satisfied with these descriptions and stands out by applying theoretical knowledge to all living things on earth, including humans, animals and plants. The author's geographical determinism clearly explains how each climatic region affects life with its unique characteristics. This effect manifests itself not only physically, such as the change in people's skin color, but also in the change of their mental state or the emergence of diseases. Therefore, according to the author, understanding the characteristics of a region also allows obtaining sufficient information to explain many of the material and spiritual conditions of the people of that climate. Although Mas'ûdî basically compiled these explanations from written sources, he used both his own observations and the information he obtained through his investigations to prove them. Therefore, as seen in the central location of the Babylonian climate, he accepted the region and society in which he lived as the basis, and explained this with reasons that he found quite justified. The author's reference point is the most moderate region, the most moderate society, that is, the Iraqi region and its people. Therefore, Mes'ûdî is placed at the center of his narrative not only as the author, but also because he was born and lived in the most moderate point on earth. The elements discussed in this article show that Mes'ûdî's contributions to Islamic historiography as a historian are related to his evaluation of geography as an essential element of history. The article aims to prove the impact of geography in shaping societies and therefore history, specifically in Mas'ûdî's narrative.
Detaylı Başlık
İslâm Tarihçiliğinde Toplumları Şekillendiren Bir Unsur Olarak Coğrafya: Mes‘ûdî Örneği
