The transcription and evaluation of court record numbered 93 of Antalya (H. 1282 – 1284 / M. 1865 – 1868)

The Ottoman Empire, known for its multinational structure, prominently featured the Turkish-Muslim identity. As a cosmopolitan entity, the Ottoman Empire had a dual and complementary legal system consisting of Islamic (Sharia) law and customary law. The qadi (judge) and his deputy, the na'ib (deputy judge), held significant positions in the Ottoman Empire as enforcers of Sharia law. The Sharia court registers kept by the qadis and na'ibs serve as primary sources in various fields such as law and history. The main source for our thesis is the 93rd Numbered Antalya Sharia Court Register, which is rich in content. It allows us to obtain information about the administrative, territorial, judicial, military, religious, and socio-economic aspects of Antalya from 1865 to 1868, following the proclamation of the Tanzimat Decree. Antalya, with its ancient history, has been remembered as a port city under various names. Although the prominence of its port fluctuated over time, it managed to maintain its status as a commercial center for many years. The 93rd Numbered Antalya Sharia Court Register, covering the years 1865 to 1868, indirectly provides information about port activities. Records of ships, sailors, and maritime affairs, as well as materials found in certain shops and estates, and traders, serve as indirect sources of information. The circulating currency, the inventory of items in estates, and their prices, as well as real estate transactions, provide insights into the economic sphere. In the social domain, analysis can be made regarding neighborhoods, settlements, families, living conditions, and particularly homes and clothing items found in estates. Furthermore, the abundance of records concerning non-Muslims allows us to gain insights not only into their lives but also into Muslim-non-Muslim relations. Additionally, through the Sharia Court Registers, we can observe the implementation of the innovations, commands, and prohibitions introduced by the Tanzimat Decree in regions considered somewhat distant from the center. Keywords: Antalya, Sharia Court Registers, court, qadi (judge), na'ib (deputy judge).