On the History of the ‘Salon’ Culture in the Ottoman Empire in the 19th Century

Abstract

The transformation that Ottoman society underwent in the course of ‘modernization’ by the second half of the 19th century brought with it new rules and norms of behavior. The transition to a Europeanized, namely ‘alafranga’ way of life set a new task for the Turkish intelligentsia – making acquaintance with Western etiquette. And since the social life of the Ottoman until the middle of the 19th century mainly took place within their home, changes were primarily made in everyday life and the traditional Ottoman household. The entry of European norms into the traditional world of the Ottoman home began with the use of European furniture, a new organization of the rooms, and a change in interior decoration. As a result, a separate room for receiving guests called ‘salon’ (lounge) appeared, which soon grows from a simple room for receiving guests into the center of the country’s intellectual life. From now on, guests will begin to gather not only for light entertainment, but also to discuss current news and events. Thus, the ‘salons’ culture, as an integral part of the lifestyle of ‘alafranga’, in the Ottoman Empire will begin to actively develop. It is these ‘salons’ that will play an important role in the mass education of the people in the future, and participants of these ‘salons’will subsequently become the initiators of new large-scale social and cultural changes in the life of the country.