Abstract:

Astrakhan is an important political center located in the northen part of the Caspian Sea. It is in the middle of the trade routes between India, Russia and Iran. Because of its location it has taken attention all of its history. Upon this it is an historical city important both for Turkish and Russian history from the time of Golden Horde. For understanding the history of Astrakhan travel books are especially important with the beginning of 18th century. Because of this Astrakhan is examined from the eyes of an English and French traveller The French writer Gamba and Scottish writer E. Henderson is chosen for the first quarter of 19th century. Our travellers are belonged to this period. The name of the Gamba’s book is “Voyage dans La Russıe Mérıdıonal” and E. Henderson’s is “Biblical Researches and Travels ın Russia, Including a Tour In The Crimea and The Passage Of Caucasus”. Gamba travelled between the years 1820-1824 and Henderson travelled between 1821-1822. Gamba is given approximately 50 pages and Henderson is 10 pages to describing the Astrakhan. In the book of the Henderson the missionary looking and activities is dominant. Scottish missionary activities in the Astrakhan is given detailed. The name of the book of Henderson shows this missionary look at the beginning to the reader. While in the book of Gamba a wider perspective is used for describing Astrakhan. Hommaire De Hell and Robert Sears parellel to Gamba described the socio-economic structure of the Astrahan at the same years. These travel notes gives important data for the population of Astrakhan. Russians, Tatars, Persians, Indians; transporting activities in the Caspian Sea, trade relations between Iran and Russia are important subjects of the book of Gamba. Both of the books will be examined in compartive way and compared with other travel books, geographical sources belonging to that period.

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