A tarditional district, a conservative image: a history of Üsküdar between 1838-1914

Abstract

In this thesis, Üsküdar, one of the four administrative districts of Ottoman Istanbul, has been analysed between 1838 and 1914 with reference to the concepts of conservative and traditional. Üsküdar's cultural and economic structure has been analysed according to the changes undergone, or to the changes not undergone when compared with the other districts of Istanbul. The image of Üsküdar formed in that period has been analysed by looking at how Üsküdar and Scutarians were described in late nineteenth and early twentieth century texts such as novels, newspapers, guide books and travel books. In the last chapter, Üsküdar's cultural structure and image has been re-evaluated in the context of the conservative mode of thought of late Ottoman modernists. The findings of this study, looking at Üsküdar through the concept of conservatism, have been used in order to understand the world of symbols that is related to the conservative mode of thought of late Ottoman modernists.