Ceyhan city with its political, economic and cultural aspects (1923-1980)

This study examines the historical development of the city of Ceyhan in general terms, starting from pre-Islamic times, and particularly aims to examine in detail the political, economic, and cultural transformation between 1923 and 1980. Ceyhan and its surroundings, which have hosted many civilizations throughout history due to their strategic location, have a historical past extending from the Hittites to the Persians, from Rome to Byzantium. The studies conducted within the scope of the thesis have revealed that Ceyhan went through a multifaceted transformation process in the period 1923-1980. This transformation, under the guidance of central state policies, has taken place in a wide spectrum, from agriculture and animal husbandry to industry, from the single-party period to multi-party life, and from traditional social structures to modern cultural activities. Economic developments, strengthening of transportation infrastructure, and development policies have accelerated the region's shedding of its rural identity. Within the scope of cultural analysis, the social transformation that Ceyhan society has gone through has been clearly revealed through elements such as community centers, education policies, folklore, and social life. In the thesis, primary and secondary sources such as Republic Archive documents, newspapers and magazines of the period, TÜİK data, and local history narratives were used. As a result of the study, Ceyhan ceased to be just an agricultural town and became a political, economic, and cultural center on a regional scale and became an exemplary settlement unit representing the transformation of the countryside in line with the modernization goals of the Republic.