AMASYA’S URBANIZATION PROBLEMS

Human settlement in Amasya is known to date back to ancient times. Historical sources and archaeological excavations reveal a history of 7,500 to 10,000 years. Various tribes, states or humans have settled in this region in known history. Amasya was first chosen as a place of settlement for protection purposes, and then for its importance in protecting a trade route. It developed with the cultures of the communities that ruled the region until the Ottoman period. During the Ottoman period, Amasya was called the City of Princes. These characteristics have been reflected on its residents, its culture, its social life and on the physical structure of the city with its monumental structures and civil architecture examples. Technological developments and urbanization increased after the Ottoman period, despite its being a restricted settlement area. However, the linear urban settlement that has existed in the city until today has generated a problem with its structure and population. Balanced living environments should be created using today’s technology as a requirement of urbanization. If the urban area remains stable while the population continues to increase, this indicates a problem of urbanization. This article is intended to solve this problem of urbanization. The solution to the urbanization problems of Amasya, which degrade its historical urban characteristics and constitute the source of an unhealthy living environment, enables the protection of its historical and touristic characteristics. To solve these problems, healthy urbanization standards should immediately be established for the restricted settlement area of the city, and the city should be decentralized with an urbanization model after getting the population to the appropriate size for its capacity.