An overview of the cultural activities of women in the Seljuk period of Anatolia with emphasis on the Creeds of Mevleviye, Bektashiye and Awhadiyye

Sufi cults were of the most effective cultural groups in the Anatolia during Seljuk period of Rome and they had numerous followers among kings, princes, dignitaries as well as rural and urban people. Overviewing the Sufi orders of this region shows importance of three creeds of Mevleviye,Bektashiye and Awhadiyyein growth, expansion and development of the Sufism. The presence and status of women in mentioned creeds haven’t been taken into consideration noticeably and properly at the most of researches which studies these sufi creeds. This study intends to explain, authenticate and compare the cultural activitiesof women in Seljuk period of Anatolia with emphasis on these three creeds through a descriptive method.The results of this study showsthat women who were affected by doctrine of any of the mentioned creeds,despite of their differences in social status and the utilizationamount of resources, power and wealth and also their difference in adherence to beliefs and obedience of religious rules, they dealt with various cultural activities such as holding religious ceremonies and rituals of Sufism, attendinglectures of Sufi masters, building public places such as mosques, baths, schools and tekiehs, caliphate and administration of monasteries and feeding the poor. It seems that they have played a significant role in the growth, expansion and development of Sufism in the Seljuk period of Anatoliathrough their active and influential presence.