In the Mercek program series, prepared to support our university’s academic and cultural content production, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mevlüt Günler, a faculty member of the Department of History, addressed the historical figure and legacy of Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey. This short video, produced with the aim of informing students, academically examines the activities of Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey, one of the prominent actors in the political history of the Turks in Anatolia, his historical context and particularly his decision to declare Turkish as the official language.

Within this framework taking into account the political, social, and cultural conditions of 13th-century Anatolia, it was emphasized that Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey’s language policies constituted not merely an administrative measure but a conscious political choice aimed at preserving and strengthening Turkish identity. Assist. Prof. Dr. Günler discussed in detail the contributions of this decision to the spread of Turkish in the public sphere in Anatolia and its effects within a context of historical continuity.

Bringing together academic content and visual narration, this video aims to contribute to the development of historical awareness and presents the significance of Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey’s historical legacy from a clear and qualified perspective for students and viewers.

Click here to watch the video.