Non-Muslim places of worship in Trabzon - Degirmendere Hamsikoy Valley

Over the centuries, the Ottoman Empire kept the communities of different languages, religions and cultures living in prosperity. This situation directly affected the construction activities of Non-Muslims, who had an important place in Ottoman society. Değirmendere Valley, which is an important military and commercial route in Trabzon, a port city in the Ottoman period, offers a very rich content in terms of determining Non-Muslim places of worship. In the study, the situation of Non-Muslim populations under the Ottoman administration and the reflections of the implemented policies on places of worship are examined. Hamsiköy Valley, the branch of the valley extending from the center of Maçka to the south, has been chosen as the sample area. In this context, work; It aims to reveal the relationship between the construction and location choices of the structures (surviving, demolished or transformed) determined depending on the historical, geographical, commercial, socio-cultural and demographic structure of the valley. The study consists of four parts: General Information, Studies Conducted, Findings and Examination, Results and Suggestions. In the General Information, Non-Muslims under the Ottoman administration and the reflections of the political-social structure on places of worship were examined. In addition, information was given about the historical, geographical, commercial and socio-cultural environment of Değirmendere Valley. After the geographical and socio-cultural structure of Hamsiköy Valley was created in the Studies carried out, building identity cards were created in the fourteen settlement areas. In the Findings and Investigation, the construction and location choices of the buildings are related to the distribution in the valley, market place/trade routes and population movements. In the Results and Suggestions, the results of the study are presented within the framework of all the examinations and evaluations carried out and suggestions for new studies are included.