Nonmuslim population in Menteşe in the first half of 19th century

Population is one of the subjects that do not lose its importance in topicality in social sciences. The population density, economic activity and migration movements of a geographical area are power elements for the state that it is bound up. The first classical period census followed by the modern census, which are both representing the population census in Ottoman Empire, took place in 2nd Mahmut Era. The census is done in order to determine the socioeconomic state of the empire and to provide managerial easiness of communities, which were under the protection of the state. It is widely known that census is done particularly for the number of soldiers and for the tax ratio. Hereby it is aimed to demonstrate the demographic characteristics of nonmuslim elements of Menteşe by studying the nonmuslims that were located in Menteşe District in the first half of 19th century. Keywords: 19th Century, Population, Muğla, Menteşe Disrict, Nonmuslim, Duty.