Mathematical Sciences in Istanbul during the Ottoman Classical Period
Abstract
ABSTRACT
During its long stay on the stage of history, the Ottoman state had significant effects in almost every aspect, from science to art, from politics to the military, from economy to international relations. On the other hand, the number of studies on the Ottoman scientific tradition is very low. Thus, the History of Ottoman Mathematical Literature, History of Astronomy Literature During the Ottoman Period, History of Music Literature During the Ottoman Period and other books of the series in the fields of natural and applied sciences, astrology, military and geography are almost the only reference sources. When it comes to mathematical sciences, it is seen that much more new research is needed. Therefore, this article will be based on the classical period, which is less studied than the last period of the Ottoman Empire. Considering the mathematical works produced and used in the Ottoman science tradition, it would be appropriate to accept the classical period of mathematical sciences between the XIV and XVIII centuries. It was aimed to give general information about the superficial content of mathematics produced, learned, taught, used, widespread and transferred in this period, the places where these actions related to mathematics took place and the areas in which the aforementioned mathematics is closely related. Thus, it was aimed to show how much mathematics was intertwined with daily life, city, architecture, aesthetics, management and economy through the city that best represented the Ottoman Empire, namely the capital Istanbul. For this purpose, the research is divided into three main sections after a general introduction. In the introduction part, the scope, purpose and boundaries are put forward through a general explanation of the concepts mentioned in the title of the study. In the first chapter, theoretical and practical major mathematical sciences are introduced through basic works, taking into account a distinction between sciences that produce mathematical knowledge and sciences that use mathematical knowledge. Although mathematical sciences are not divided into theoretical and applied in the classical classification of sciences, such a path has been followed here for pedagogical purposes. However common feature of all sciences introduced here is that they are included in the classical classification of sciences under the umbrella of mathematical sciences. By theoretical mathematics sciences, the pure mental branches of mathematics that are executed not for an external cause or necessity, but only for itself, which contain laws and rules that do not have to exist in the external world are meant. The main theoretical mathematical sciences are ilm-i adad, ilm-i hisab, ilm-i handasa, ilm-i jabr. With the practical mathematics sciences, it is meant the areas where the laws produced by the theoretical branches of mathematics are used for a purpose other than producing mathematical knowledge in order to achieve practical purposes. Main practical mathematics sciences are ilm-i misaha, ilm-i hay'at, ilm-i mikat, ilm-i faraid, ilm-i music, ilm-i hiyal, ilm-i manazir. In the second part, four of the places where mathematical sciences were produced in Istanbul in the Ottoman classical period are explained. These are madrasahs, timekeeping houses (muvakkithanas), finance offices and Istanbul observatory. In the classical period, in the Ottoman geography in general, and in the capital Istanbul in particular, mathematical sciences were learned not only through formal education and training in schools and madrasahs, but as autodidactic, home education with a private teacher and apprenticeship to a craftsman. However, here, mathematics education in madrasahs, timekeeping houses (muvakkithanas), finance offices and Istanbul Observatory is presented, as more data can be accessed about it and it represents institutional education. In the third chapter, the most important fields in which mathematical sciences are used are introduced as architecture, fine arts, law and military. In fact, this chapter shows much better how closely mathematics was related to the art of living in the Ottoman geography in general and in Istanbul in the classical period. Because it reveals the effect of mathematical sciences on the provision of law, justice, zoning, urbanism, architecture, art and security, which are integral parts of peaceful life in society. As a result of all these, it was revealed that the production and use of mathematical sciences in the Ottoman classical period was not limited to a few fields such as accounting and land measurement, and contrary to popular belief, many fields of mathematics, whether theoretical or applied, were in circulation at different levels in different channels. Therefore, it has been shown that the concepts of mathematical precision and accuracy come to the fore in the knowledge produced or work done in any field.
Keywords
Osmanlı Klasik Döneminde İstanbul’da Matematik İlimler
Abstract
ÖZ
Osmanlı devleti tarih sahnesinde kaldığı uzun süre boyunca ilimden sanata, siyasetten askeriyeye, ekonomiden uluslararası ilişkilere kadar hemen hemen her yönden önemli tesirlerde bulunmuştur. Buna mukabil, Osmanlı ilim geleneği üzerine yapılan çalışmaların sayısı cüzi seviyededir. Öyle ki, matematik, astronomi, tabii ve tatbiki ilimler, askeriye, coğrafya ve musiki alanlarında ayrı ayrı yayınlanan Osmanlı Literatür Tarihleri hemen hemen tek başvuru kaynağıdır. Matematik ilimler söz konusu olduğunda ise çok daha fazla yeni araştırmaya ihtiyaç duyulduğu görülür. Bundan mülhem bu makalede Osmanlının son dönemine nispetle daha az çalışmaya konu olan klasik döneminde üretilen, öğrenilen, öğretilen, kullanılan, yaygınlaşan ve aktarılan matematiğin yüzeysel bir içeriği, matematikle ilgili bu eylemlerin gerçekleştiği mekanlar ve mezkûr matematiğin yakın ilişkide bulunduğu alanlar hakkında genel bilgiler verilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Böylece matematiğin, Osmanlıyı en iyi temsil eden şehir, yani başkent İstanbul üzerinden günlük yaşamla, şehirle, mimariyle, estetikle, yönetimle, ekonomiyle ne kadar iç içe olduğunun gösterilmesi hedeflenmiştir. Bunun için araştırma, genel bir girişin ardından matematik ilimler, bu ilimlerin üretildiği mekanlar ve matematik ilimlerin ortak çalıştığı ilimler olmak üzere üç ana bölüme ayrılmıştır. Tüm bunlar neticesinde de Osmanlı klasik döneminde matematik ilimlerin üretim ve kullanımının, muhasebe ve arazi ölçümü gibi birkaç saha ile sınırlı olmadığı, sanılanın aksine ister teorik ister uygulamalı birçok matematik alanının farklı mecralarda farklı seviyelerde tedavülde olduğu, dolayısıyla herhangi bir alanda üretilen bilgide veya yapılan işte matematiksel kesinlik ve doğruluk kavramlarının öne çıktığı gösterilmiştir.
Keywords
