ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF ANKOYUNLU IN EASTERN ANATOLY

Abstract

In the 15th century, the Turkic state of Aqqoyunlu emerged, uniting the lands of Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Syria. It was the first of the Azerbaijani states, and despite its short existence, it managed to leave its mark both on its region and in European chronicles. The architectural legacy of Aqqoyunlu in Eastern Anatolia includes dozens of mosques, madrassas, caravanserais, tombs, bridges, baths, and other structures, testifying to the significant construction activity and cultural influence of the Aqqoyunlu state in the 14th and 15th centuries. This legacy reflects the blending and transformation of various architectural traditions characteristic of the region. In Turkey, famous buildings from the Akkoyunlu period include the Uzun Hasan Mosque in Tabriz, as well as various religious buildings, public buildings, and structures in Anatolia, including the Qasriyya Madrasah, mosques, mausoleums, caravanserais, the Sheikh Mattar and Gyulabi Bey Mosques, and the Zeynal Bey Mausoleum.