Constants and Variables in the Reconstruction Process of National History: Mutual Analysis of Ottoman Image in pre and post-independence Period of Azerbaijan History (within the framework of history textbooks)

Year 2019, Volume: 18 Issue: 36, 637 - 670, 30.12.2019

Elnura Azizova

https://doi.org/10.14395/hititilahiyat.551181

Abstract

Being one of
the most influential areas having great influence on the development of
historiography, especially in the last two centuries, national history writing
has been the most effective means of creating political and cultural identity
beyond recording of the vital events of the political, social and cultural life
of the nations. During the last century national historiography in Azerbaijan
has experienced ideologically, politically and culturally three different
stages of its history: Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920), Azerbaijan
Soviet Socialist Republic (1920-1991) and Azerbaijan Republic (1991-). 71 years
of Soviet and 28 years of the post-soviet period are the periodic limits of
this research.

Similarly to
other nations, history of Azerbaijani Turks has been developed through the
military, political, economic, social and cultural interaction with other nations.
In this context, in terms of national historiography of Azerbaijan, Turkey was
one of historically important figures that cannot be compared with other
states. Taking into account its earlier and later stages as Seljuks and the
Republic of Turkey, the Ottoman Empire took part within the history of
Azerbaijan. The main purpose of this investigation is to determine the
perception of the Ottomans in Azerbaijani historiography and to analyze the
continuity and changes between these two periods of the national
historiography. The relevant data from the history textbooks which were, and
still are standard and compulsory by the Ministry of Education in schools of
Azerbaijan in both the soviet and post-soviet periods will be evaluated
qualitatively by applying content analysis method.

Key Words: Turkish History, National Historiography, History Textbooks, Ottomans,
Turkey, Azerbaijan

Summary

During the
Soviet period, the Ottoman Empire was introduced as “occupying state” for
Azerbaijan according to the policy of Soviet historiography. This image of the
Ottomans has changed throughout the rereading process of the history after
Azerbaijan gained its independency and the approaches that led to significant
changes in the Ottoman perception were put forward.

In the Soviet
period history textbooks, the Ottoman Empire is mentioned as a foreigner who occupied
the territory of Azerbaijan. The Ottomans, who occupied large lands in Europe,
Asia and Africa, is the most fearful dream of Azerbaijan in the region,
especially during the 16-17th centuries. The Ottoman-Safavids relations, which
worsened in the Battle of Chaldiran, provided a good excuse for the occupation,
and the Ottomans carried out invasion marches on the territory of Azerbaijan.
During these marches the Ottomans murdered and enslaved tens of thousands of
people, oppressed and persecuted Shiites and Christians, bankrupted the people
because of heavy taxes, took to Turkey many scholars and craftsmen. As a
result, the Ottomans became the most damaging state from which Azerbaijan
suffered in political, economic and cultural terms.

Although the
Ottoman image in the history textbooks of the post-independence period overlaps
with the Soviet period in some respects, it is often attempted to create a more
moderate Ottoman perception throughout different approaches. The
Ottoman-Safavid relations remain one of the most sensitive subjects of national
historiography. The main reason of the Ottomans opposition against the Safavids
is shown as excessive sectarian bigotry. The political intervention of medieval
western diplomacy is also underlined in this dispute between the two major
Turkish states. Thus, unlike in Soviet period historiography, the Ottomans are
relieved of being unilaterally guilty of the event, and it is claimed that the
real “other” is medieval western diplomacy, which seeks to prevent the
development of the two Turkish-Muslim empires and exploits the sectarian
difference. The Ottoman marches to Azerbaijan between the 16-18th centuries are
seen as occupation in the historiography of the post-independence period, but
it is emphasized that humanitarian behavior was applied in the tax policy
against the Azerbaijani people by giving sources from the Ottoman registers. It
is also emphasized that the Janissaries, with whom the Ottoman state could not
cope, oppressed the people in different ways.

The perception
of Turkey for the last century both in the Soviet and post-Soviet period
textbooks is also important in terms of reflecting on the current image of
Turkey. According to the Soviet period textbooks, similar to the Germany’s
policy on the Caucasus during the World War II, the Republic of Turkey also was
continuing its occupation policy against Azerbaijan. It is also implied that,
this policy of the Republic of Turkey was similar to the mission of its
predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, which reoccupied Azerbaijan during the World
War I. In addition, it is underlined that the Republic of Turkey conducted its
policy under the influence of the West, especially the United States, after it
became a member of the NATO.

On the
contrary, the Ottomans is mentioned as “the brother Ottoman State” in post-independence
period textbooks and its important services during the establishment period of
the Caucasus Army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 is emphasized.
Both the facts that the Ottoman Empire was the first to recognize the
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Republic of Turkey was the first to
recognize the Azerbaijan Republic in 1991, are presented to highlight the role
of Turkey as the first ally of Azerbaijan in the region. Turkey also is
presented as the closest supporter of Azerbaijan in the region about its most
important national cases such as the regaining of Karabakh and solving the
Armenian issue. Beyond its current powerful position in international politics,
as well as its emerging economy which makes Turkey the first ally to Azerbaijan
among neighboring countries, it is brother country to Azerbaijan in accordance
with “one nation two states” statement.

In conclusion,
although many approaches in Azerbaijan historiography about the Ottoman
perception have been radically changed, some of them have been continued in the
main subjects of national historiography such as the territorial integrity and
defense of the homeland. One of the major deficiencies of the historiography of
both periods reflected in the textbooks is that it provides insignificant
information on cultural interaction between Azerbaijan and Turkey. This
problem, which is a natural consequence of the fact that national historiography
is still explained through more political-military history issues, is in fact
an obstacle for the whole picture to be seen in bilateral relations.

Keywords

Turkish History, National Historiography, History Textbooks, Ottomans, Turkey

Milli Tarihin Yeniden İnşa Sürecinde Sabitler ve Değişkenler: Bağımsızlık Öncesi ve Sonrası Azerbaycan Tarihçiliğinde Osmanlı İmajı (Tarih Ders Kitapları Çerçevesinde)

Abstract

Tarih yazıcılığının gelişimini önemli ölçüde etkileyen
alanlardan biri olarak millî tarih yazıcılığı ulusların siyasal, sosyal ve
kültürel hayatının önemli olaylarının kayda alınmasının ötesinde, özellikle son
iki yüzyılda siyasal varoluşun ve kültürel kimlik oluşturmanın en etkin aracı
olmuştur. Azerbaycan’da milli tarih yazıcılığı son yüzyılda ideolojik, politik
ve kültürel değerleri bir-birinden farklı Azerbaycan Demokratik Cumhuriyeti
(1918-1920), Azerbaycan Sovyet Sosyalist Respublikası (1920-1991) ve Azerbaycan
Respublikası (1991- ) dönemlerini yaşamıştır. Azerbaycan’ın 71 senelik sovyet
ve 25 yıllık bağımsızlık dönemi araştırmanın dönemsel sınırlarını
oluşturacaktır.

Bütün uluslar gibi Azerbaycan Türkleri’nin de tarihi
diğer uluslarla askeri, politik, ekonomik, sosyal ve kültürel etkileşime bağlı
olarak gelişmiştir. Bu bağlamda Azerbaycan’ın millî tarih yazıcılığı açısından
Türkiye, diğer devletlerle kıyaslanamayacak kadar önemli tarihi figür olmuştur.
Selçuklu ve Türkiye Cumhuriyeti gibi öncesi ve sonrası da önem arzetmekle
birlikte, Osmanlı döneminde Türkiye, Azerbaycan tarihinin bizzat içinde rol
almıştır. Araştırmanın başlıca amacı Azerbaycan tarihçiliğinde Osmanlı imajının
tespit edilerek millî tarih yazıcılığında dönemlerarası süreklilik ve
değişikliğin karşılıklı analiz edilmesidir.

Gerek sovyet, gerekse bağımsızlık dönemi Azerbaycan’da
okullarda Eğitim Bakanlığı’nca tek tip ve zorunlu olarak okutulan tarih ders
kitapları araştırmanın başlıca kaynaklarını oluşturacaktır. Azerbaycan
tarihçiliğinin bağımsızlık öncesi ve sonrası dönemlerinde Osmanlı algısı, bazen
siyasi ve derslik yazarlarının kimliği gibi bireysel faktörlere bağlı olarak
kendi içinde homojenlik arzetmediği için her dönemin kendi içindeki
değişikliğin iz sürümü de sovyet ve post-sovyet dönemlerin farklı senelerinde
yayınlanmış ders kitaplarından tespit edilecektir. Ders kitaplarının yanısıra,
Azerbaycan tarihçiliğinin her iki dönemle ilgili belli-başlı eserlerinden
bütünlüğün sağlanması ve karşılaştırma amacıyla yararlanılacaktır.

Keywords

Türk Tarihi, Milli Tarih Yazıcılığı, Tarih Ders Kitapları, Osmanlı, Türkiye

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