Ottoman Cities During the Russo-Turkish War (The 93 War) with Illustrations From the American Newspaper Harper's Weekly

Abstract

Illustrated periodicals published in Europe and America in the 19th century provide important information and visuals about the Ottoman geography, like many other countries in the world.This study includes wood engraving technique illustrations of Istanbul, the Balkans and Anatolian cities, which were presented to the reader in one of the aforementioned newspapers, the American Harper's Weekly, between 1876 and 1878. It is understood that there are 13 depictions of strategically important Balkan cities, Eastern Anatolian cities and the capital Istanbul during the 93 War, as well as strategically important castles, fortifications and bastions in these cities. These illustrations and related news are valuable documents for understanding how Harper's Weekly used Ottoman urban texture and cultural heritage during the 93 War. Thanks to the illustrations given about the news, it has been determined how America saw and visualized the Ottoman Empire during the 93 War. In addition, the destruction caused by the 93 War on the Turkish cultural heritage, especially in the Balkans and Eastern Anatolia, was tried to be determined through illustrations and it was tried to reveal how important foreign newspaper illustrations are for the studies to be done.