In the first part of this study, after making a short introduction about ''history of literature'', İsmail Hikmet Ertaylan's remarks on history of literature and on civilization are included. In the other part, Ertaylan's contributions to Turkish literature and his place in the history of literature have been evaluated, by interpreting his works on the history of literature. In the history of Turkish literature, İsmail Hikmet Ertaylan, with his work named History of Turkish Literature I-IV, including nearly one-century period, has importantly contributed to the history of literature, without making period classification and naming but with a history of literature work, based directly upon people. In the history of literature works of Ertaylan, other remarkable elements are that he has made Turkish language and literature recognized abroad, in his history of literature works he has given examples from belles-lettres by including political, social and literal events, and apart from these, he does not use a special method in history of literature licence, he includes subjective assessments and from time to time he iterates.

Anahtar Kelimeler
Literary history,İsmail Hikmet Ertaylan, literature historiography, regimentation, critique.