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Katip Chelebi was born in 1609. His real name was
Mustafa, and in the eastern and western books he was called as “Hadgi Kalfa” and
“Hadgi Caliph”. He entered to Divan Secretary in his 17th year. His father
was a soldier and he joined the wars of Tercan and Baghdad. Katip Chelebi came to Istanbul
after his father’s death in Mosul. He attended the lectures of famous scientists. He
went to Baghdad, Aleppo, Hedjaz and Revan with the Ottoman Army and increased his
knowledge and experience. In 1638, he inherited a prosperity from one of his relatives and
he resigned from his governmental duty. He had read all the books he had wanted and had
medrese education. Katip Chelebi learnt French and Latin languages besides the eastern
languages. Hence, he followed the scientific developments in the western world. His book Cihannuma
is about the geography and the history of the countries from Japan to Iraq and Erzurum
Frontier, it had been served as a source to the western scientists. He had gone beyond the
boundaries his century’s science, he searched the evidences to prove the earth’s round
shape, he had translated western works about astronomy. He was one of the founders of the
modern science. He died in 1657. |
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