Madrasa Book Sellers in Diyarbakır: The Transformation of a Tradition from Peddlers to Bookstores

Abstract

The transition from manual reproduction of texts to printed editions had an impact on literacy and on the way books could be acquired. With the mass production of books, the process of turning the book into a commodity accelerated, leading to some changes in the book trade. Since literacy is also a cultural activity, the process of making and reaching the reader has been considered as a cultural activity and has been studied in sociological and anthropological studies. Sahafs, bookstores, libraries, and reading meetings were the main places covered in these studies.The materials and technologies used in book production, the role of educational institutions in literacy, and the influence of political and economic forces in the cultural sphere have changed over time, making books and literacy a fundamental topic in studies of cultural change.