Determination and Evaluation of Financial Issues in Nizâmü’l Mulk’s “Siyasetnâme”

Abstract

Turks are one of the nations with the longest state experience in history. It is of utmost importance that this experience accumulated in every aspect of the state life is brought to light and brought to the use of present-day statesmen. One of these works is “Siyasetname” which is written by Nizâmül Mülk, who had worked for the Great Seljuk State for many years. In this study, the financial issues that Nizâmü’l Mulk handled in Siyasetnâme have been identified and evaluated. In light of these findings, it is aimed to transfer the historical knowledge and experience to the present day. This work contains information constitutionally about many different areas of state life. Within the scope of the study, firstly, the sections that focus on financial issues were chosen as the research area. These sections are discussed according to the method of screening, detection, analysis, criticism and composition which are commonly used in historical researches. At the end of the study, it was found that sultans should behave those who were under the rule of the sultans with justice in any way, those who were governed should produce the public services they need, to supervise the other officials, especially the vizier, who serve the public, and to manage the treasury and income-expense transactions on a regular basis.The most important result of these findings is the fact that operations in the financial structure and operation sensitivity of the state look alike regarding quantity and operates on an ongoing basis although 10 centuries passed away.

Keywords

• finance
• nizâmü’l mülk
• book of government
• financial inspection
• public expenditures