Nonmuslims in the Anatolia province in the first half of the 16th century

ABSTRACTThis study, which points out the situation of the non-Muslim subjects ofthe Ottoman State in classical system by concretizing in the example ofAnatolia Province, one of the administrative units was prepared usingOttoman population survey registers.Ottoman state, which realized its non-Muslim practices with anunderstanding arised from both Islamic law and Turkish custom governed itspeople according to ?millet system? based on religion and religious sects. Inthis system, state took each individual in a congregation and afterdetermining all rights and responsibilities left him/her in peace.The non-Muslims in the Ottoman State can be classified varriouslyaccording to different points of view: taxonomy in respect of religion&religioussects, ethnicity or political relations & relations related to law with Muslims.Before the Ottoman rule, under Anatolian Seljukids and then Turkishprincipalities, there were friendly relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in Anatolia. Non-Muslim inhabitants and semi-nomadic Turks werein touch with each other espacially in commercial activities. Relations mightbe seen also as intermarriage.In the first half of the 16th century, in Anatolia Province, non-Muslimsclustered around particularly important trade centers. They might form theirown quarters or share the same quarter with Muslims in many districts.Muslims called them as ?kefere? namely infidels or ?zımmû? (dhimmi) whichsuggests non-Muslims in general. Beside these terms, non-Muslims werecalled also with their ethnic-religious identities as ?Greek?, ?Armenian? and?Jew?.Non-Muslims were active mainly in financial area and craft. They alsooccupied with agriculture and raising livestock. In addition to these it wasvery often to observe them as various kinds of officers.In their congregations, non-Muslims had problems among the oneswho belong to different cultures and believes. They had relations that servein particular profit mative with foreigners. There were not considerableproblems with Ottoman administration since the policies toward non-Muslimswere very fitting. They assessed themselves as ?Ottoman citizens? and keptbeing devoted to the Ottoman capital. In relationship between Muslims andnon-Muslims, although sometimes some problems loomed, they establishedvery close relations. As a result, Muslims and non-Muslims contribute eachother very much.