The transcription and evaluation of the Muslim Population Register of the Ödemiş District, register no. 3039 (AH 1246 / AD 1831)

ABSTRACT HISTORY THE TRANSCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF THE MUSLIM POPULATION REGISTER OF THE ÖDEMİŞ DISTRICT, REGISTER NO. 3039 (AH 1246 / AD 1831) HÜLYA NUHOĞLU Population registers constitute one of the most important sources for acquiring information about past societies. As archival materials, these registers serve as primary sources and provide valuable insights into the socio-cultural and demographic structures of communities. The term "population" refers to the community living within the boundaries of a certain region. Etymologically, the Turkish word nüfus derives from Arabic and is the plural form of nefs, meaning "soul," "life," or "vitality." The first population census in the Ottoman Empire was conducted during the reign of Mahmud II. A general census was carried out in 1830/1831 (AH 1246). Following the abolition of the Janissary Corps by Mahmud II, the Asâkir-i Mansûre-i Muhammediye army was established, composed primarily of young Muslim men. The census was undertaken both to determine the taxes to be levied on the population and to assess, in qualitative and quantitative terms, the male population required for the new army. In the subsequent years, regional and general censuses were conducted periodically. Keywords: Ödemiş District, Population Register, Population, Ottoman Empire, Tahrir Register