‘The pole star of historians’ Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık

I respectfully commemorate our esteemed historian and author Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık, who was known as the 'pole star of historians,' a giant of science both nationally and internationally, who grew up within the merit system of the Republic of Turkey and produced countless works throughout his century-long life.

Regarding Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık, who passed away on July 25, 2016, Prof. Dr. Cemal Kafadar says, "Just as when you go to the doctor, they first give you an aspirin, we tell students to first read the professor's books to understand Ottoman history."

The details of İnalcık's life, his ideas, and his work discipline (which we could also call a biography in a sense) are contained in the river-interview book titled ‘The Pole Star of Historians - Halil İnalcık’ by archaeologist Emine Çaykara.

I would like to share with you some details from the book, which contains observations by Professor Halil İnalcık that remain relevant even today. I believe that as Turkish intellectuals, we need to remember them once again…

"TODAY AMERICA WANTS TO DOMINATE THE MIDDLE EAST; IT CREATED ISRAEL, IT CAME TO IRAQ"

A state that dominates the Straits holds the key to the world for all of Eastern Europe… The Byzantine Empire was established in its time, followed by the Ottoman Empire; a state that dominates the straits and Anatolia must possess the power of a great state; because the whole world has its eyes on dominating this region… England achieved this in the 19th century by taking Cyprus and Egypt…

Today, America wants to dominate the Middle East; it created Israel, it came to Iraq, and it is trying to create another Israeli state in Northern Iraq..."

'TO SAY ISTANBUL MEANS WORLD DOMINATION…'

Emphasizing the strategic and historical importance of Istanbul, İnalcık gives the following example: 'In 1807, Napoleon and the Tsar met in Tilsit; they were dividing the world. The disintegration of the Ottoman state was on the table; Napoleon wanted Egypt for France. As for the Straits and Istanbul, the Tsar naturally insisted on Istanbul. Napoleon resisted then, because he said, ‘To say Istanbul means world domination…’

Istanbul has become a world city today; it has changed in the last 10-15 years. People from the Balkans are no longer coming to Europe, but to Istanbul. In accordance with the importance of this city, an Istanbul institute is needed. This is the duty of the municipality. There are some people who, because they cannot access the sources, only see Byzantium in their dreams; there is a cosmopolitan Istanbul that prioritizes Byzantium and is tied to Christian literature and travelers. They are distorting the Ottoman-Turkish character and the current real structure of Istanbul…

Now this is like a fashion; saying that Istanbul is Christian, that it is Byzantine! They don't even know who they are serving with this…

'WE ARE SURROUNDED ON ALL FOUR SIDES…'

We are surrounded on all four sides; if we did not have a strong army, Turkey would be torn apart the next day. A strong army is a vital necessity for Turkey. Who follows the dangers around us day by day and files them? The Army, the General Staff...

'WE COULD NOT CARRY OUT THE REFORMS' ...

We could not carry out these reforms that Tito carried out in Bosnia in Eastern Anatolia, could we? Atatürk brought land reform to the agenda, but it could never be implemented. The Democrat Party (DP) era and conservative politics perceived such a move as a kind of communism, and it didn't happen. You know, my doctoral thesis, ‘The Tanzimat and the Bulgarian Question,’ is exactly on this subject...

...I am a nationalist when choosing my subjects, but I approach them entirely with Western methodology while working on them…
I always tell my students to maintain this attitude; I say, never mix nationalism, sentiment, or heroics into your research, but pay attention to the subjects you choose. Because it is only possible to correct bigoted, distorted views and claims in this way.

'A HUMAN IS ABSOLUTELY FREE WHEN BORN…'

This is the work of 18th-century philosophers. A human is absolutely free when born, but they must accept certain rules in social life. Freedom is limited by the freedom of the other; this is where the constitutional regime comes from. This is a state philosophy artificially put forward by Rousseau and Montesquieu... Against this, there is the German ‘gemeinschaft’ view, meaning every society is an organic and entirely unique entity brought about by history and social development. Therefore, its art, worldview, etc., is a muhasala, that is, an accumulation, created by history over centuries...

'NO CULTURE IS SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER'

No culture is superior to another. The culture of a tribe in the middle of Africa is of the same value as the culture in London in the West. That culture is a life device created by society that fulfills its life functions. In every society, there is a certain structure that determines its rules of life. In Westernization, conflict with the old system or degeneration arises. I explained earlier how our language has degenerated…

In this column, I have tried to share the views of Prof. Dr. Halil İnalcık, whose many observations I have quoted from his book, which will be valid in every period and which especially the new generations should not forget.

I leave the final word to our professor Halil İnalcık again: 'History does not teach moral lessons. You shall not read history with our current value judgments!..'