Topkapı Palace Gardens

Culture, defining the domination of humans to their natural and social surroundings within
the historical process, has gone through changes from the past till today with its “time” dimension.
Considering the progress of the changes until today and the formations, they display differences based
on the educational and awareness levels of societies. Whereas advances that are made in especially
science and technology improve the capacity of groups and societies from different cultures to influence
one another, it has also been a fundamental issue impacting the rate and direction of social change.
Considering the past, it is remarkable that great social changes occurred with migration waves. The
most important cultural changes in Anatolian geography have emerged with such migration waves.
Oghuz and Turkmen tribes, who migrated from the Central Asia to Anatolia, blended the culture of
the Central Asia with the cultures that they met at the migration ways and have carried their unique
believes, traditions and arts to Anatolia. The garden concept, defined as an aesthetic shaping of
environmental development, has become distinct and earned an identity within the time progress with
the influence of natural and cultural factors and it was an issue that settled considerably late because of
nomadism of Anatolian Turks and their habit of sensing the nature with its large dimensions and living
with it intimately. Migrations occurred in the Central Asia, where the climatic conditions were tough
and drought was experienced, and this was a mandatory life style for Turks and it in turn prevented
their dependence to land. Despite their relationships with nations, who had a permanent settlement,
over time it allowed them to recognize the garden concept and they started to manage soil only during
the Seljuk period and especially the Ottoman period. In this research, the garden perception, design
features of gardens and garden culture in Anatolian-Turkish culture during the process starting from the
11th century Principalities period till Classic Ottoman period were scrutinized. In the scope of the study,
Topkapi Palace Gardens, which are one of the garden examples that reached today and an indication of
Turkish Garden features, were explored.