7749 numbered Malatya religous court record of 1-93 pages transcription and evaluation

Being one of the keystones of Ottoman Judicial System, Cadi ( Muslim Judges) is the most important organ of Ottoman Rural Administration. Cadi was the judgeof assigned area, social security association and civilian authority and security chief. Religious court records which recorded by Cadi has become one of the unique sources that describes social and economical life. Besides the verdicts recorded by Cadi, civils applied Cadi with every problem and Cadi recorded all of the applications. Such documents provides first hand information about the way of life in Ottoman Society. With the Tanzimat Reform Era, however, most of the govermnent agencies were revised or newly openned. This revision and formation period effected the religious courts and documents or records of religious courts. Before it was possible to reach information about social life, the type and quantity of information was restricted after Tanzimat Era. In this study, 7749 numbered Malatya Religous Court Records has been categorized in terms of its definition and transcription, evaluation about Malatya from recorded documents, topics and summary of verdicts. We have information about social, cultural, economical and political life of Malatya by 7749 numbered Malatya Religious Court records. Keywords: Cadi, Religious Courts records, Malatya, Muslim, Non-muslim, Woman, Man