Analysis of the factors affecting the termination of Beyşehir Occupation Phase in Anatolia

Abstract

Sudden interruptions and changes in the environmental and social systems experienced in the past in Anatolia have led to the investigation of the reasons for this situation. This study aims to investigate the factors that influenced the end of the Beyşehir Occupation Phase (BOP) in Anatolia in the mid-7th century AD and the relationship of these factors with socio-ecological changes. To achieve this aim, historical and archaeological data, climatic records, and fossil pollen data on environmental changes were brought together to analyse the conditions of the period and the factors affecting the end of this period. The period of prosperity in the 3rd-6th centuries, when economic development and military security were high, ended as of the 7th century AD. During this period, which covers the Middle Byzantine Period, lands and settlements were abandoned, and agricultural activities were significantly weakened due to the insecure conditions. As a result of the abandonment of the lands, forests developed and steppe vegetation decreased. The settlement data showing the decrease in the population indicate a significant break in the settlement pattern in Anatolia during this period. In addition to the decrease in the number of population and settlements, pollen data show that the agricultural regime changed during this period. Although the types and rates of crops vary by region, in many parts of Anatolia, people have turned to cereal cultivation and animal husbandry activities, especially instead of viticulture and olive cultivation. Thus, insecure conditions caused the type of agriculture to change from settled agriculture to nomadic pastoralism. As a result of the evaluation of the data on climate changes, earthquakes, epidemics, and wars, which are among the potential factors that were effective at the end of the BOP, it was determined that wars and Arab raids on Anatolia were the main factors that ended this period.

Keywords

• Anatolia
• Beyşehir Occupation Phase
• Environmental change
• Arab raids

Anadolu’da Beyşehir İskân Dönemi’nin sonlanmasında etkili olan faktörlerin analizi

Abstract

Anadolu’da geçmişte yaşanan ortamsal ve toplumsal sistemlerdeki ani kesintiler ve değişimler bu durumun sebeplerinin araştırılmasına neden olmuştur. Bu çalışma, MS 7. yüzyılın ortalarında Beyşehir İskân Dönemi’nin (BİD) Anadolu’da sonlanmasında etkili olan faktörleri ve bu faktörlerin sosyo-ekolojik değişimlerle ilişkisini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaca ulaşmak için tarihsel ve arkeolojik veriler, iklimsel kayıtlar ve ortamsal değişimlere dair fosil polen verileri bir araya getirilerek dönemin koşulları ve bu dönemin sonlanmasına etki eden faktörler analiz edilmiştir. Ekonomik gelişimin ve askeri güvenliğin yüksek olduğu 3.-6. yüzyıllardaki refah dönemi MS 7. yüzyıldan itibaren sonlanmıştır. Orta Bizans Dönemi’ni kapsayan bu dönemde oluşan güvensiz koşullar nedeniyle araziler ve yerleşmeler terk edilmiş ve tarımsal faaliyetler önemli ölçüde zayıflamıştır. Arazilerin terk edilmesi sonucunda ormanlar gelişmiş ve step vejetasyonu azalmıştır. Nüfusun azaldığını gösteren yerleşme verileri Anadolu’da bu dönemde yerleşme düzeninde önemli bir kırılmayı gösterir. Nüfus ve yerleşme sayısının azalmasına ek olarak polen verileri bu dönemde tarım rejiminin değiştiğini göstermektedir. Bölgeye göre ürün tipleri ve oranları farklılaşmakla beraber Anadolu’nun pek çok yerinde insanlar özellikle bağcılık ve zeytin yetiştiriciliği yerine tahıl tarımı ve hayvancılık faaliyetlerine yönelmişlerdir. Böylece güvensiz koşullar tarım tipinin yerleşik tarımdan göçebe tarıma dönüşmesine neden olmuştur. BİD’nin sonlanmasında etkili olan potansiyel etmenlerden iklim değişimleri, depremler, salgın hastalıklar ve savaşlara dair verilerin değerlendirilmesi sonucunda savaşların ve Anadolu üzerine gerçekleştirilen Arap akınlarının bu dönemi sona erdiren temel faktör olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

• Anadolu
• Beyşehir İskân Dönemi
• Ortamsal değişim
• Arap akınları

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