Abstract:

Natural disasters are significant socio-economic events that concern people and states. This is because it is not possible or takes a long time for the people, the settlement units, the environment and the economic activities to return to the pre-disaster conditions due to the significant natural disasters. For this reason, the effects of natural disasters need to be revealed for a complete understanding of the social and economic history of a state or city. In this study, the earthquakes that took place during the second half of the 19th century in the Isparta provinces and districts located in the first-degree earthquake region were discussed in the light of primary sources, which are archive documents, newspapers and chronicles. In this way, it has been aimed to contribute to the seismicity and Isparta's earthquake history by revealing how frequently and large earthquakes were experienced. In this context, during the second half of the 19th century in Isparta, it was determined that twenty-five earthquakes occured, several of which seemed to have caused damage. Especially on 17 January 1889, the earthquake was very severe. So, several buildings in Isparta city centre and some villages connected here were ruined. After this devastating earthquake, a Disaster Commission was established under the chairmanship of Isparta tenant (mutasarrıf). The Commission aimed to find urgent solutions to the problems and needs, and attempted to cover the wounds of the earthquake victims within a short period of time. 

Keywords: