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Belleten

The journal “Belleten”, has its roots going back to 1910, though it had two different

names before it became Belleten in 1937. Since then, it has generally been published three

months a year.1 In its preface, it is mentioned that the journal is published by Türk Tarih

Kurumu. Also, it is pointed out that the journal’s sole purpose is to reveal the truths in Turkish

history as well as tell about its greatness and vastness. 2 Its target audience is “those who love

science and history”.3 The articles published in it range from scientific investigations and

news, historical records such as inscriptions, official or private documents, and so on. Articles

of Turkish or foreign scientists’ and even some history lovers’ articles can be published on it. 4

The language of the journal is mainly Turkish, but it is possible to encounter articles written

in or translated into other languages such as French, German, and English. From the preface

onwards, it can be clearly seen that the journal has been proceeding in a nationalistic and

Kemalist line.

In 1937, the year Belleten was first published with its new name, all four issues in the

1st volume displayes many articles about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s efforts in the war years.

These articles generally tell about unknown bits and pieces from those years as they were

difficult times that required many secrets being kept in order to not be in danger against those

who did not favour the Turkish resurrection. “Tarihe Geçmiyen Bir Kahramanlık ve Büyüklük

Menkıbesi” and “Gerilla Hakkında İki Hatıra” in issue 1, “Atatürk’ü Dinlerken: Vatan ve

Hürriyet” in issue 2, “Atatürk’ü Dinlerken: “Mukaddes Tabanca” and “Vatan ve Hürriyet =

İttihat ve Terakki” in issues 3-4 are an example of this. All these can be put into the category

of nationalist history. Also, the 1 st volume presents articles such as “İslam Tababetinde Türk

1
Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi
2
Belleten, Önsöz.
3
Belleten, Önsöz.
4
Belleten, Önsöz.
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Hekimlerinin Mevkii ve İbni Sina’nın Türklüğü”, “Ahaman Ailesinin Milliyeti”, and “Piri

Reis’in Şimalî Amerika Haritası Telifi 1528”. It can be seen that in these articles the Turkish

ethnicity of important persons in history is valued and their purpose is to inform people on

this. This would also be an example of nationalist history, as well as social history because of

the ethnic aspect, and even microhistory because of the focus on individuals.

In 1943, the 7th volume was being published. The 25th issue’s “Orta Çağların

Başlarında Avrupa ve Türkler”, the 26th issue’s “18. Yüzyıl Başı ‘Avrupa Umumî Harbi’nde

Türkiye’nin Tarafsızlığı” and the 27th issue’s “Tarihte Şark ve Garp Mefhumları” show a shift

in the journal’s focus of historical research area. It is seen that in the 40’s the journal was

more invested in the European -especially political/traditional- history while still remaining

connected to Turkey’s history. Other articles of the 7 th volume such as “Selçuklular’ın

Horasan’a İndikleri Zaman İslam Dünyasının Siyasal, Sosyal, Ekonomik ve Dini Durumu”,

“Anadolu Selçukluları Tarihi’nin Yerli Kaynakları”, and “Anadolu’nun Orta Çağlardaki

Rolü” indicate the importance that the journal attributes to not just the history of Turkey, but

the -political, social, economic, and cultural- history of Turkic regions in general.

Additionally, the 28th issue’s “Atatürk’ün Anafartalar Muharebelerine Ait Hâtıraları” can be

considered Belleten’s reminder that it has not changed its nationalistic and Kemalist approach

since 1937. However, from the difference of subjects in the articles compared to the journal’s

first times, the historical change can be observed in it since Atatürk’s death.

In 1973, examples of microhistory and cultural history catch the attention in Belleten.

These are the 37th volume’s 145th issue’s “Sultan Cem’in Portreleri Hakkında”, “Türk

Hamamı”, “Ankara’nın Eski Evleri, Türk Ev Kültürü, Müze Evler” and the 147 th issue’s

“İran’da Erken İslam Devri Alçı İşçiliğinin Anadolu Selçuk Sanatında Akisleri”. A whole

study just on a historical figure’s portraits really make an example of microhistory, while

studies on Turkish houses and bathhouses point out an interesting aspect of the daily lives of
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Turkish people and thus, exemplify cultural history. A study on Seljuk art would also be in

the category of cultural history. Moreover, articles about Atatürk such as “Ölümünün Otuz

Dördüncü Yılında Atatürk’ü Anarken”, “Mütareke Devrinde Mustafa Kemal Paşaya Ait İki

Belge”, and “Atatürk’ten Anılar” are popular in this year just as they were the other years.

In 1985’s issues of the 49th volume, it is seen that there is an interest in religious

(social), political, and medical (cultural) histories. The 193rd issue’s “Ashella Ritueli ve

Hititlerde Salgın Hastalıklara Karşı Yapılan Majik İşlemlere Toplu Bir Bakış” is a type of

cultural history study that was not common for the previous years’ issues. 193 rd’s “Hz.

Muhammed Devrinde İslam – Hıristiyan Münasebetlerine Toplu Bir Bakış” and 195 th’s

“Büyük Devletlerin Osmanlı İmparatorluğunu Parçalama Çabalarında Hıristiyan Azınlıkların

Rolü” exemplify the interest in religious and political histories of two quite different time

periods.

Finally arriving to the 21st century, the research subjects of the articles are much more

varied than before. 2000’s 64th volume’s 239th issue presents us with articles such as “Bazı

Bulgular Işığında Anadolu'da Kimmer ve İskit Varlığı Üzerine Gözlemler”, “Türkiye

Selçukluları Devrinde Türkçe'nin Resmî Dil Olmasını Kim Kabul Etti?”, “Bulgaristan'da

Prenslik Döneminde Türklerin Sosyal ve Siyasal Kurumlaşma Çalışmaları”, and “Babaîler

İsyanından Kızılbaşlığa: Anadolu'da İslâm Heterodoksisinin Doğuş ve Gelişim Tarihine Kısa

Bir Bakış”. The vastness of the geographical regions, historical periods and perspectives

handled in these articles are remarkable. 240th’s “Urartu Bahçeleri” and 241st’s “İ. Ö. 1. Bin

Yılı Orta Anadolu Çanak–Çömleğinde Ana Tanrıça Kültü” catche the attention because of

their Anatolian cultural history perspectives. What’s more, 2020’s 84 th volume’s 299th issue’s

“Osmanlı Devleti’nin Kalpazanlıkla İmtihanı (1818-1921)” and 301 st issue’s “II. Meşrutiyet

Döneminde İstanbul’da Sosyal Bir Problem Olarak Kumar İlleti” are interesting takes on
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social and cultural histories as they reflect both the economic and crime-related realities in

Ottoman history.

In every year’s issues, there are always articles about various types of old architectural

structures, archaeological and anthropological finds which can generally be categorized as

studies in cultural history. “Alacahöyük’te Bulunan İskeletlerin Antropolojik Tetkiki” (1937,

issue 1), “Kumtepe Neolitik Kemikleri Üzerinde Antropolojik Tetkik” (1937, issue 2),

“Pazarlı’da Çıkan Eserler Üzerinde Yeni Araştırmalar” (1943, issue 25), “Bayramiç-

Kızılköy’de Bulunmuş Bir Mezar Kabartması” (1985, issue 195), “Eretnalı Beyliğinin

Paraları” (2000, issue 240), and “Acemhöyük Fayans ve Frit Eserleri Üzerine Arkeolojik ve

Arkeometrik Değerlendirmeler” (2020, issue 300) some of these. Furthermore, some articles

about women’s (social) history are also present here and there in the journal; “Orta ve Yeni

Kurunda Ortaasya ve Hindistan Türklerinde Kadınların Mevkii” (1937, issue 1),

“Cumhuriyetin 50. Yılında Türk Kadını” (1973, issue 148), “Osmanlı ile Karamanlı Arasında

Bir Kadın: İlaldı Hatun” (2020, issue 299). With all this in consideration, it is possible to say

that the journal has never strayed from its nationalistic approach and has always included

articles about Turkishness, Turkish nationalism, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk along with other

types of articles that are examples of political, social, cultural, and micro history studies.
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Kaynakça:

Belleten Dergisi (accesessed 20.05.2022)

https://belleten.gov.tr/

Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi (accesessed 20.05.2022)

https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/belleten