Osmanská próza 15.–18. století
Ottoman Prose of the 15th–18th Century

Summary/Abstract: Across four centuries of intellectual and cultural development, Ottoman prose evolved into a rich and diverse literary tradition that reflected the political, scholarly, and social life of the empire. This article surveys the principal genres of Ottoman prose between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, highlighting the dominant role of historiography alongside biographical dictionaries, travel literature, diplomatic reports, scientific works, religious writings, and popular narratives. Ottoman historians produced extensive chronicles that documented imperial history while gradually introducing critical analysis, broader source usage, and more sophisticated historical methodologies. Travel literature reached its peak in the works of renowned authors who recorded detailed observations of foreign lands, peoples, and customs, creating valuable historical and ethnographic sources. The study also examines the emergence of tezkere, biographical and bibliographical dictionaries that preserved information about poets and literary culture. Scientific literature flourished in fields such as geography, astronomy, medicine, mathematics, and natural sciences, reflecting the empire’s engagement with both Islamic and European intellectual traditions. Diplomatic reports from Ottoman envoys offered new perspectives on foreign societies and facilitated cultural exchange with Europe. At the same time, religious writings, collections of letters, folktales, legends, and stories about popular figures such as Nasreddin Hodja remained an important part of literary production. The article demonstrates that Ottoman prose was far more than a vehicle of administration and scholarship, serving as a dynamic medium through which knowledge, memory, culture, and identity were preserved and transmitted across generations.

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