Description
Book SynopsisAn Ottoman Era Town in the Balkans: The Case Study of Kavala presents the town of Kavala in Northern Greece as an example of Ottoman urban and residential development, covering the long period of Kavala's expansion over five centuries under Ottoman rule. Kavala was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1387 to 1912. In the middle of the sixteenth century, Ibrahim Pasha, grand vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, contributed to the town''s prosperity and growth by the construction of an aqueduct. The Ottomans also rebuilt and extended the existing Byzantine fortress.
The book uncovers new findings about Kavala, and addresses the key question: is there an authentic Ottoman built environment that the town and its architecture share? Through the examination of travellers' accounts, historical maps, and archival documents, the Ottoman influences on the urban settlement of Kavala are assessed. From its original founding by the Ottomans in the late fourteenth century to the
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. Formation of Ottoman era towns in the Balkans; 2. History and urban development of Kavala; Conclusion
