"Who Would Read, Who Would Write": An Examination of Two Alevi Cönk s from the Late Nineteenth Century

ABSTRACT: The cönk manuscripts, vital for the communal memory of Kizilbash-Alevi communities, provide unique insights into their social and religious history. Predominantly studied within Turkish folklore for understanding the evolution of Turkish language and oral culture, these mystical poetry-filled codices have been underexplored by historians. The present study focuses on the distinct features of Alevi cönks within their social contexts, highlighting their unique production and content by examining two manuscripts from the National Library in Ankara, originating from late nineteenth and early twentieth century Alevi villages in Sivas and Çorum. By analyzing these manuscripts, the study aims to contribute to the understanding of Alevi literacy, culture, and social history, as well as to enhance the historiography of cönk studies in general.