AKSIT, ILHAN Turkish art and architecture in Anatolia & Mimar Sinan. Istanbul: Aksit Kultur Turizm Yayinlari, 2005. Oblong 4to., 323 p., color ills. Original binding. Dust wrapper. New Oversize and very heavy volume. Please contact for postage cost. ISBN: 9789757039228 CATALOG: Architecture & Urban studies KEYWORDS: Ottoman architecture Turkish architecture History of art Mimar Sinan Ottoman culture The Byzantine defeat at the hands of the Great Seljuks at the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071 led to an upsurge of Turkish might in Anatolia. Establishing what are referred to as the "early emirates" in the palaces they subjugated, and later creating the foundations of the Anatolian Seljuk State, the Turks came to exercise suzerainty over the entire territory. In addition to exercising political prowess, they created a hybrid culture from the rich cultural resources they found in Anatolia and the ones that they brought with them, thereby leaving a unique and indelible Turkish imprint on the region. Wherever they went, they took with them the architectural manifestations of Islam. The construction of mosques, tombs (turbes), medreses (schools of theology), and lodges (zaviyes), as well as bridges, caravanserais, hospitals and hamams (baths), all of which reflected the political, economic and cultural activity of the time, produced in Anatolia a rich sociocultural fabric never previously encountered. The rich architectural and cultural activities that the Seljuks, Emirates and Ottomans brought to the lands over which they came to hold dominion forms the subject matter of this book. One of the emirates that declared their autonomy from the Anatolian Seljuk State as it collapsed was that governed by the Ottomans, who grew into an empire that was to exercise sovereignty over the whole of Anatolia for 600 years. Developing the inheritance of Seljuk art and architecture, the Ottomans were to inaugurate many innovations of their own in these areas. By the time the Ottoman Empire had reached its zenith under Suleyman the Magnificent - just a few short years after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih the Conqueror, it had spread over three continents. This Golden Age gave rise to a great architect ("mimar") by the name of Mimar Sinan, who created brilliant works of incredible beauty that stretched the grandeur of the Empire to its outer limits. This book is an attempt to outline the development of art and architecture in Anatolia. While covering the works made possible by this genius who holds an unsurpassed position in the history of Turkey, as well as the handicrafts of the same period, each in their own sections, the book tries to highlight both the architectural currents existing prior to Sinan and those architectural creations in Post-Sinan periods that remained faithful to his legacy. The final section rounds out by discussing such traditional art forms as woodworking, metal working, tilemaking, cloth, miniatures, carpets, hat (calligraphy) and tezhip ("gold gilding" or "illumination"), which served as complementary elements of architecture.