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HISTORY OF ERZURUM
The past of Erzurum goes back to the years of 4000 B.C. The discoveries that are obtained during the archeological excavations around Karaz, Pulur, Guzelova and Soshoyuk have put forward that Erzurum and its surrounds had been very old and very important settlement places. Erzurum, which has been under domination of various tribes and nations since the very old periods of the history, has a rich past in terms of cultural values.
Erzurum, which had lived periods of Hurrians, Urartians, Scythians, Meds, Persians, Arabs, Iranians, Sasanians, Romans and Byzantines, has changed hands between Byzantines, Romans and Arabs starting from the 5th century until the 10th century. There are great numbers of castle, church, combinations of monasteries, rock graves, archeological sites and constructional ruins belonging to these periods.
Domination of Byzantine has been ended after the 1071 Malazgirt victory and the city has been handed over to the governing of the raider friends of the Alparslan, Saltuk Bey. Hence, the Turkish era has started in Erzurum and while the construction activities has continued in the city during the Saltukogulları, Selcuklular and Ilhanlılar periods on one hand, Erzurum has became a culture and art town with the constructions of mosques, theological schools, domes and bridges on the hand.
Construction of Erzurum, which was added to the land of the Ottoman in1514 by Yavuz Sultan Selim, in an serious sense has been achieved during the period of Kanuni. Monasteries, lodges and theological schools, which were the social and cultural institutions of the period, as well as large number mosques, inns, baths, fountains and bridges have been constructed.
Erzurum is a nice example of the Selcuklu and Ottoman cities with its mosques, theological schools, domes, shrines, bridges and bastions. The Castle, Ulu Mosque, Three Domes, Theological School with double minaret, Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque and Rüstem Pasha Covered Bazaar are amongst the central buildings of the city.
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