Travels in Iran & the Caucusus : 1647 & 1654

This is a stimulating and informative account of an Ottoman administrator's missions to the region in the mid-seventeenth century.

Evliya Chelebi's travelogue is not simply a diplomatic report, but rather a fascinating exploration of the religious, ethnic, artistic, and even culinary peculiarities of the region.

In addition, it offers a fresh perspective on relations between the Ottomans and the Safavids during a period of relative calm in an otherwise stormy relationship.

For the first time, the Iranian and Caucus sections of Chelebi's Siyahat-nameh have been translated from the original Turkish manuscript into English in their most complete form.

As such, this book is a unique resource not only for scholars of Safavid Iran but also for those interested in the seventeenth century Middle East in general.