Mustafa İsen’s book “Traces of Turks in Greece” published

The book sheds light on the cultural and architectural heritage left behind on Greek territory during the Ottoman era. Drawing from extensive fieldwork and archival research, İsen documents mosques, madrasas, caravanserais, baths, bridges, and cemeteries across various cities in modern-day Greece, emphasizing both their historical significance and sociocultural context.

The volume provides detailed insights into Ottoman-era structures in cities such as Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Komotini, Xanthi, Kavala, and Athens, supported by photographs and on-site observations that illustrate the current condition of these remnants. The work explores themes of cultural continuity and historical memory, raising important questions about the visibility and preservation of Ottoman legacy in Greece.

In the introduction, İsen writes:

“The Balkans, once a vital wing of the Ottoman Empire, became one of the most advanced regions of its time through a new administrative vision. Within this geography, many of the Empire’s most prominent cities were founded, showcasing the best of Ottoman science, arts, culture, and architecture. However, after the region ceased to be part of the Ottoman realm, much of this cultural heritage, particularly architecture, was neglected or deliberately destroyed.”

He adds:

“Identifying and preserving these monuments is essential not only for Turkey’s cultural memory but also for enriching the shared cultural heritage of humanity.”

The book examines Turkish cultural presence in Greece through three main sections:

Part I: Cities of Western Thrace and Macedonia
Didymoteicho

Alexandroupoli – Ferres

Komotini

Xanthi

Yenice Karasu

Kavala (City of Pashas)

Drama (City of Ballads)

Serres (Former Governance and Cultural Hub)

Smaller Towns of Macedonia: Zihne, Demirhisar

Thessaloniki (Queen of Cities)

Vardar Yenicesi (Land of the Akıncı)

Veria (Karaferye)

Servia (Serfice)

Florina

Edessa (Vodina)

Kastoria (Kesriye)

Part II: Cultural Heritage of Epirus and Thessaly
Epirus Region:

Ioannina (Provincial Capital)

Arta (Narda)

Thessaly Region:

Yenişehir Fener (A Center of Refinement)

Volos

Trikala (Tirhala)

Elassona, Aydonat, Parga, Konitsa

Part III: The Mediterranean and Aegean Islands
Mainland Cities:

Aetoliko (İştekoz), Lepanto (İnebahti), Lamia (Izdin)

Athens

Morea (Peloponnese)

Islands:

Crete

Euboea (Eğriboz)

Rhodes

Kos (İstanköy)

Chios (Sakız)

Lesbos (Midilli)

Lemnos

Samothrace (Semadirek)