Influence of Early Ottoman Urban Pattern in Bursa on the Balkan Cities: Skopje Case

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 87 - 94, 25.02.2017

Alper Gonul

Abstract

Bursa, as the first capital of Ottoman State, is a peculiar
Anatolian city representing unique urban development of Early Ottoman Era.
Various studies have depicted that there was an established Ottoman model for
the development of new towns and agreed that the Early Ottoman urban pattern
beginning with Bursa influenced the development of Balkan cities that were
conquered during the 14^th century.

This study focuses on the effects of urban development idea
of Early Ottoman State on Bursa and Skopje. Skopje is one of the Balkan cities
conquered by Ottomans following Bursa. 
The city of Skopje, displayed similar characteristics with Bursa in
terms of its topography and urban pattern. Although their development differed
after the Ottoman sovereignty ended, their early development displayed some
similarities.

The settlement pattern, during Early Ottoman Era, can be
characterized with an existing citadel, a bazaar and neighborhoods called
‘mahalle’. These neighborhoods were developed around a nucleus composed of
religious, commercial, social and cultural buildings called ‘kulliye’. Within
the scope of this study, the similar urban pattern of Bursa as the first
Ottoman capital and Skopje, as one of the earliest Balkan cities conquered by
Ottomans is analyzed. There are various studies focusing on Early Ottoman urban
pattern in Bursa and Skopje separately. However, the similarities of the
development of these two cities are rarely studied. Therefore, this study aims
to depict these similarities and the effect of Early Ottoman urban pattern on
these two cities.  

Keywords

Ottoman Era, Urban Pattern, Bursa, Skopje

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