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International Symposium on Seljuk Civilization

Here is the English translation of the news article, maintained in a professional, academic, and journalistic tone: Historical Gathering in Konya: The First "International Symposium on Seljuk Civilization" Has Been Held Hosted by the Konya Metropolitan Municipality, the first of the "International Symposium on Seljuk Civilization" series—organized in cooperation with Selçuk University, KTO Karatay University, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, and Necmettin Erbakan University—has been successfully held in Konya. The opening and academic sessions of the program, held at the Metropolitan Municipality Taş Bina Culture and Arts Center, were attended by Konya Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Uzbaş, Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Ercan Uslu, university secretaries-general, deans, academics, and numerous guests. "Konya’s Seljuk Identity Is Our Greatest Advantage" Speaking at the opening of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Küçükdağ, Head of the Department of History at KTO Karatay University, emphasized that Konya’s role as the capital of the Anatolian Seljuks still constitutes a major cultural advantage for the city today. He noted that this historical texture is vividly felt in the streets of the city and around Alaaddin Hill. Prof. Dr. Ömer Soner Hunkan, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Necmettin Erbakan University, highlighted that the Seljuks were not merely a military power, but a universal civilization that blended justice, aesthetics, and a profound administrative intellect. He also expressed his gratitude to Uğur İbrahim Altay, the Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, for his support of the organization. "History Sheds Light on What We Must Do Today" Ahmet Sorgun, Member of the 26th and 27th Terms of the AK Party Konya Parliament, stated that the papers presented at the symposium brought historical knowledge to light from the dusty pages of history and established a strong bridge between the past and the future. Konya Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Uzbaş also reminded that the Seljuk heritage continues to guide our civilization today, adding: "We have completed the first stage of this scientific journey, which we aim to extend over a span of 20 years. This journey, initiated with the theme of 'Politics, Diplomacy, and Intelligence in the Seljuks,' has allowed us to better comprehend the depth of the Seljuk state mind and has brought a new horizon to Seljuk studies." The First Step of a 20-Year Scientific Journey Is Completed Designed to facilitate a more comprehensive investigation within the international academic community regarding the Seljuk State—the founder of the Turkish-Islamic civilization in Anatolia—in fields such as history, geography, diplomacy, science, and military structure, the symposium marked the first phase of a long-term project. In this first program of the series, which is envisioned to last for a total of 20 years and be held biennially, national and international expert academics presented their papers. Following the academic evaluations and sessions, the first link in the symposium series, which aims to transmit the Seljuk heritage to future generations, was successfully concluded.