Abstract:

The Ottoman Empire made censuses at certain times in order to financially control the population living on its lands in the classical period. These records provide today's researchers with important data about the demographic and social structure of the period as well as the economic situation. In the 19th century, censuses were carried out in order to obtain the statistical data needed by the state in line with the requirements of the age. In this context, the census carried out in 1831, which aims to determine the military potential of the country, is accepted as the first census carried out by the Ottoman Empire in a modern sense. Tarsus population registers dated 1832, which constitute the main source of this study, were kept as a result of this census. As a result of the examination of four population registers containing the population data of the Sanjak of Tarsus, first of all, the administrative status of the sanjak was revealed. In this context, the villages were classified according to the districts, their locations were determined, and the boundaries of the districts were determined and mapped. Then, the settlements were classified, and information was given about the neighborhoods in the city center and the villages connected to the districts. Finally, the demographic situation of the sanjak was discussed, and the population information of the districts, towns and villages separately was emphasized. In addition, the populations of the tribes and communities in the books were also examined in this context. In the light of all these data obtained, the administrative and demographic characteristics of the Sanjak of Tarsus in the period just before İbrahim Pasha's occupation were tried to be revealed.

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