Çanakkale Araştırmaları Türk Yıllığı (Apr 2013)
Memlük Devleti'nin Doğu Akdeniz'deki Önemli Siyasi Faaliyetleri
Abstract
The Mamluks, neighbour to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, was located on the trade route extending between the Far East and Europe. On the one hand, its position was an advantage but a disadvantage on the other, which would possibly turn it into an appealing target for various political powers. For this reason, the Mamluks must save their strength both on land and in seas. For the Mamluks who had a substantial dominance particularly over Egypt and Syria from 1250 till, The East Mediterranean Sea was an important basin for the sustainability of the powers in Anatolia and the political and economic relations with Europe .The East Mediterranean policy of the Mamluks aimed to defend their own territory rather than to conquer new ones. This policy changed in the 15th century. The purchase of Alaiye and the campaigns to Cyprus and Rhodos marked the onset of the warring years for the Mamluks. Nevertheless, the belligerent attitude lost its impact from the end of this century to the collapse of the state. The present paper discusses the policy of the Mamluks, the Crusades, Anatolian Principalities (Beylics), Cyprus and the relations with the Europe.
