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Early history of carpet weaving. Anatolian rugs have their own distinctive characteristics which do not relate to either Persian or Caucasian rugs.. The Greco Roman city, Byzantium, renamed Constantinople by the Roman Emperor Constantine was a centre of art and culture for over sixteen hundred years until the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople. Weaving techniques in this area were developed as early as the second millennium BC.
Contemporary techniques and styles can be traced back to the Seljuks, a nomadic people from Central Asia who ruled the Country prior to being overrun by the Ottoman Turks, . Another important influence in the evolution of Anatolian rugs were the Mamluks. Originally taken to Egypt as slaves they subsequently seized power in the middle of the 13th century and ruled as Sultans of Egypt until the Ottoman conquest in 1517. Main characteristics of their rugs being geometric patterns
which have a variety of filigree type motifs and hexagonal or octagonal medallions. There is a definite presence of Egyptian motifs, including cypresses and palms which have a long artistic history going back to Pharaonic times. .
Anatolian rugs were first brought into Europe by Italian merchants during the Middle Ages, they lacked the intricacy and sophistication of Persian rugs and therefore appealed more to the rising Mercantile class. For centuries in Europe all Oriental rugs were referred to as Turkey rugs. Thousands were later imported to furnish the houses of the rapidly expanding middle classes whereas it was Persian carpets which graced the Palaces, the Country heritage homes of the aristocracy and the town houses of the wealthy.
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