Kirsehir

Kırşehir exists because guilds needed a headquarters. In the 13th century, as Mongol invasions scattered Turkmen populations across Anatolia, Ahi Evran established the first craftsmen's brotherhood here—organizing 32 professions from tanners to tinsmiths into a network that would structure Ottoman economic life for six centuries. The Seljuks named the place "Kırşehir" (steppe city), but its function transcended geography: this was where apprentices became masters, where quality standards were enforced, where mutual aid turned competitors into colleagues.

The Ahi system worked like a professional mycorrhizal network. A traveling craftsman could find lodging at any Ahi lodge; poor travelers received free accommodation; customers could trust Ahi-certified work met standards. Over 700 commandments governed behavior—charity, honesty, quality—enforced through social sanction rather than state power. When the Ottoman Empire centralized, guilds became instruments of taxation and regulation. When the Republic abolished them, Ahilik survived only as commemoration: the Tomb of Ahi Evran entered UNESCO's tentative list in 2014; every September, Kırşehir hosts Ahilik Week.

Modern Kırşehir applies cooperative logic to different inputs. Geothermal greenhouses use 54°C groundwater to heat year-round vegetable production—eleven months of cultivation where the steppe would otherwise lie fallow. The heat exchangers connecting water to plants echo the transactional infrastructure the Ahis built between craftsmen and markets. Agriculture dominates the economy; cultural tourism grows as visitors seek the authenticity the guilds once certified.

By 2026, Kırşehir's challenge is converting heritage into revenue without commodifying it. The Ahilik Museum preserves artifacts; the annual week draws attention. Whether a medieval model of professional ethics can speak to contemporary labor markets—where gig platforms replace guilds—remains the experiment.