Prepared By: Yunus Kemal Aydoğan
Blog Post: Büşranur Bekman
Web-based mapping applications are potent tools for geographically locating places and providing users with an interactive experience. In particular, these tools provide an effective way to visually represent historical events, places, and artifacts by marking and annotating the map. Navigating this interactive map gives users a real-time experience to understand the research topic better.
We have been introducing studies contributing to the field as a blog series on our platform. In this blog post, we will focus on the work prepared by Yunus Kemal Aydoğan within the scope of the Digital Humanities Workshop organized under the coordination of Büşranur Bekman within the Center for Ottoman Studies (OSAMER).
In this work, Aydoğan used Başak Oğuz Ural's book "100 Mimar Sinan Works of Istanbul" published by Kültür A.Ş. in 2016. The data in the book was made interactive through ArcGIS Storymaps and Google My Maps. He also prepared 2D maps through ArcGIS.
These maps include the geographical locations of various works of Mimar Sinan, ranging from mosques to madrasas, bridges to baths, and information about the structures. Thus, history buffs and art lovers, in particular, have been allowed to discover Mimar Sinan's heritage in Istanbul. In addition, by providing detailed information and photographs by clicking on each building, Mimar Sinan's architectural style and aesthetic understanding were shared on a digital platform. Let's discover the works of Mimar Sinan step by step with this work prepared by Aydoğan!
Database
At first, a comprehensive database of the data in the artifact was prepared for the use of the tools and the program. In this database, the coordinates of all the structures in the work were also determined. Then, quotations from the work were identified and added to the database. Finally, the database was enriched by utilizing images from personal photo archives such as Eski İstanbul Fotoğrafları Arşivi, Turan Akıncı, and Mustafa Cambaz. The bibliography of all the images used is indicated on the map prepared.
1. Google MyMaps
First, we created a MyMaps layer with the database we prepared and mapped 98 Mimar Sinan's works mentioned in the book. Thus, we obtained an output that relevant visitors can use as a map over navigation and access the information quoted from Ural's book.
2. ArcGIS Pro
Secondly, we prepared maps with the database we prepared in our study with the help of ArcGIS Pro. We colored the map we obtained by assigning coordinate data according to category classifications. You can find four of these maps below:
3. ArcGIS StoryMaps
We obtained the most comprehensive output of the study with ArcGIS StoryMaps. We have presented all the structures with visuals and source work citations. We have also fixed our MyMaps map at the beginning of this presentation so that those who wish can examine the location of all structures without the need for extra effort.
The Heritage of Mimar Sinan in Istanbul
The heritage of Mimar Sinan, which are included in Başak Oğuz Ural's book "Istanbul's 100 Works of Mimar Sinan" and in our study:
Ahi Çelebi Camii
Bali Paşa Camii
Çavuşbaşı Camii (Mahmud Ağa Camii)
Damat Ferhad Paşa Camii
Ferruh Kethüda Camii (Balat Camii)
Gazi İskender Paşa Camii (Kanlıca Camii)
Güzelce Kasım Paşa Camii
Hacı Evhad Camii
Hadım İbrahim Paşa Camii
Hürrem Çavuş Camii
Hüsrev Paşa Camii (Ramazan Efendi Camii)
Kapı Ağası Camii (Mahmud Ağa Camii)
Mesih Mehmed Paşa Camii
Molla Çelebi Camii (Fındıklı Camii)
Muhyiddin Çelebi Camii (Çukurcuma Camii)
Nişancı Mehmed Paşa Camii
Nişancı Camii
Piyale Paşa (Tersane) Camii
Rüstem Paşa Camii
Sinan Paşa Camii
Sokollu Mehmed Paşa (Azapkapı) Camii
Süleyman Çelebi (Üsküplü) Camii
Şah Sultan Camii
Şehzade Cihangir Camii
Turşucuzade Hüseyin Çelebi Camii
Yunus Bey Camii
Arakiyeci Ahmed Çelebi Mescidi (Meşeli Mescidi)
Arpacıbaşı Mescidi
Çivicizade Kızı Mescidi (Çavuş Camii)
Davut Ağa Mescidi (Sarayağası Mescidi)
Defterdar Mahmud Çelebi Mescidi
Derviş Ali Mescidi
Duhanizade Mescidi
Düğmeci Paşa Mescidi (Dökmeciler Mescidi)
Hacı Hamza Mescidi
Hadım İbrahim Paşa Mescidi (Esekapı Mescidi) ve Medresesi
Hasan Çelebi Mescidi
Kaysunizade Mescidi
Kiremitçi Ahmed Çelebi Mescidi
Memi Kethüda Mescidi
Mimar Başı Sinan Ağa Mescidi
Sokolllu Mehmed Paşa Mescidi
Süleyman Subaşı Mescidi
Üçbaş Nureddin Hamza Mescidi ve Medresesi
Yahya Kethüda Mescidi
Hüsrev Kethüda Darülkurrası
Atik Valide Sultan Hamamı
Çinili Hamam (Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa Hamamı)
Çömlekçiler Hamamı (Akarçeşme-Dere Hamamı)
Haseki Hürrem Hamamı
Hüsrev Kethüda Hamamı
Merkez Efendi Hamamı
Odabaşı Behruz Ağa Hamamı
Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Hamamı (Yeşildirek Hamamı)
Valide Sultan Hamamı (Ayakapı Hamamı)
Cebeci Hanı (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı)
Kurşunlu Han (Rüstem Paşa Kervansarayı)
Sultan Süleyman Kervansarayı
Semiz Ali Paşa Kervansarayı (Ali Paşa Hanı)
Haramidere Köprüsü
Sultan Süleyman Köprüsü (Büyükçekmece Köprüsü)
Sultan Süleyman Köprüsü (Silivri Köprüsü)
Sultan III. Murad Köşkü
Atik Valide Külliyesi
Haseki Hürrem Sultan Külliyesi
Kara Ahmed Paşa Külliyesi
Kılıç Ali Paşa Külliyesi
Mihrümah Sultan Külliyesi
Mihrümah Sultan Külliyesi (Üsküdar)
Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Külliyesi (Eyüp)
Sokollu Mehmed Paşa Külliyesi (Kadırga)
Süleymaniye Külliyesi
Şehzade Mehmed Külliyesi
Şemsi Ahmed Paşa Külliyesi
Zal Mahmud Paşa Külliyesi
Kapıağası Cafer Ağa Medresesi (Soğukkuyu Medresesi)
Nişancı Mehmed Bey Medresesi
Rüstem Paşa Medresesi
Semiz Ali Paşa Medresesi
Sultan Selim Medresesi
Ayasofya Minareleri
Topkapı Sarayı Mutfakları
İbrahim Paşa Sarayı
Evvelbent (Paşadere) Kemeri
Güzelce Kemer
Havz-ı Kebir (Baş Havuz)
Kovuk (Eğri) Kemer
Mağlova Kemeri
Uzun Kemer
Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa Türbesi
Hacı Ahmed Paşa Türbesi
Hüsrev Paşa Türbesi
Pertev Mehmed Paşa Türbesi
Siyavuş Paşa Türbesi
Sultan II. Selim Türbesi
Şah Huban Hatun Türbesi
Şehzadeler Türbesi
Şeyh Yahya Efendi Türbesi
As can be seen, the use of mapping tools provides researchers with a new perspective on the humanities, enabling broad comparisons to be made. It also allows us to make better sense of this information and position it correctly in our minds. These contribute to a more in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the research topic.
Focusing on Mimar Sinan's works in Istanbul, this study emphasizes the significant role of digital humanities in preserving and sharing historical and cultural heritage. The potential of technology and digital tools in art and history research is also clearly demonstrated in the creation of this map. Exploring Mimar Sinan's heritage in such a modern and interactive way is an essential step toward understanding his unique achievements and architectural genius.
You can access the outputs of this project based on Ural's work via the links below:
Click for Google My Maps
Click for ArcGIS StoryMaps
Yunus Kemal Aydoğan
Sakarya University
Department of History
Undergraduate Student