Influential Figures in Iran-Turkey Cultural Relations With emphasis on Evelyn and Samin Baghtcheban's Biographies

Studying the mutual relations between Iran and Turkey is of great importance specifically with regard to their geopolitical position and regional status, cultural and religious commonalities, values and similar lifestyle, understanding of each other’s civilization, history, religion and promoting societal relations between the countries. Literature, culture and art are perhaps the perfect entrance for studying the issue. As Herodotus once said; history is an attempt at preserving the documents and deeds of great people to save them from oblivion and for that reason the article seeks to study the lives of influential people who have been important in the consolidation and promotion of mutual ties and will provide us with the opportunity to unveil the truth of history. With that background in mind, the authors have assessed the biographies and historical accounts related to the influential figures. However, given the need for brevity in writing and limited time, the biographies mentioned in this article (Evelyn and Samin Baghtcheban) have been reduced to their brief account on the historical circumstances of their time, their ideas and commentaries. The hope remains that there will come a day when Iranian and Turk researcher work on common grounds and compile the biographies of these figures who are influential persons in the two countries’ mutual relations and present them in elegant volumes which will be an enduring treasure for future generation.