Abstract:

Sherʽiyye Records are archive documents containing the most original information on the socio-economic conditions of the era they were kept. As such, they have great importance to historical research. It is possible to have an access on general information about the social, economic, administrative, legal, and cultural structure of the period in the light of these registry records. These records also document and identify the private properties of the individuals after their deaths. These registers are named as judicial registers, court records, registers of the registrar and include various documents such as decrees, charities, folk wishes, phrases, appeals, and shukka. They contain records of legal issues occurred among the people from different classes across the center and peripheral provinces in the Ottoman Empire. The Tarsus Şerʽiyye Registry (H.1264-1266 / M.1848-1850), which is the notebook under analysis in this study, covers a two-year period. This registry which consists of 172 pages and 108 provisions provides us with important information in various ways including the social and economic structure of Tarsus which had the status of a district. By looking at the registry records, a general picture of the social, economic, and cultural life of the mid-19th century Tarsus is drawn.

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