Abstract:

A census was carried out during IInd Mahmud period (1808-1839) in Anatolia and Rumelia to determine the number of taxpayers and males to be recruited into the army. Thus, Muslim male population and Non-Muslim population, from whom cizye (a kind of tax paid by Non-Muslim minorities in the Ottoman Empire) would be collected, would be determined in neighbourhood, the smallest residence unit in the Ottoman country. Besides this census during IInd Mahmud period, various other censuses were conducted in 1844, 1852, 1856, 1866, 1881/82 and 1905. These censuses provide important data revealing demographic, economic and social structure for local historical studies on the period. This study will focus on Bölücek Neighbourhood of Kütahya Central District according to 1619-numbered census book (BOA, NFS. d. nr. 1619)  recorded in 1834-1835 and now kept in Ottoman Archive of Prime Ministry under Turkish Republic General Directorate of State Archives of Prime Ministry. In the light of the data about Bölücek Neighbourhood, firstly, male Muslim population of the neighbourhood will be determined and demographic characteristics will be revealed. Next, analysing the names of the male names on record, statistical evaluation about their frequent or rare use will be conducted. Such other issues as family titles, whether these titles are still used today as title or surname, people’s physical features, mukhtars and imams in charge of the neighbourhood, recruitable male population, the contribution of the area to the Ottoman army as soldiers, disabled population and business lines the male population was occupied with in the neighbourhood will be dealt with as detailed as the records make it possible. Moreover, other issues included in the study are age distribution of the male population in the neighbourhood and data about birth- female labour number and average infant number, infant death and other death cases will be analysed. Furthermore, emigration of the population for work, education or other aims will be analysed. Immigrants to the area will also be. Thus, it is aimed to shed light on the social and economic structure of an Ottoman Neighbourhood in Anatolia over Bölücek Neighbourhood sample.

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