Marriage records in Trabzon Sharia Registers numbered 1870, 1871 and 1872 their evaluation (H.1119-1124/m.1707-1712)

The family institution, the smallest unit of society, is as old as human history. This institution has varied according to the religious, social, cultural, and economic structures of societies in different periods and geographies. The formation of the family institution, which ensures the continuation of generations, is realized through the marriage contract. There have always been differences between legal systems regarding marriage contracts. Specific elements and conditions for the marriage contract are stipulated in Islamic law. This study includes the marriage records, which are one of the steps in the family formation process, in Trabzon, one of the most important judicial centers of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 18th century. These records were obtained from the Sharia court registers, which contain the rulings given by the judges. These registers are primary sources and are significant for us due to the stage of family formation and structure they cover. In our study, the marriage records from Trabzon Sharia court registers for the years 1119-1124 (1707-1712), covering a 5-year period, were examined. Firstly, the individuals in these records, their participation status, dowry amounts, marital status, and marriage dates were listed in order. Subsequently, the numerical data based on the marital status, participation status, dowry rates, and titles of these individuals were analyzed. Following this, the names of Muslim and non-Muslim marriages were identified. These data reveal information about the socio-economic and socio-cultural structure of Trabzon.