Socio-economic and administrative structure of Hakkari according to Erzurum yearboards

This study examines the socio-economic and administrative structure of Hakkari during the Ottoman Empire period, based on the Erzurum Province Yearbooks. In this context, the thesis analyzes the administrative organization, economic activities, and social fabric of Hakkari in the 19th century in a multi-dimensional way. Located on the eastern border of the Ottoman Empire, Hakkari had dynamics different from the central authority in terms of both its geographical structure and social organization. In this region, which was under the dominion of local beys (local rulers), the Ottoman administration faced significant difficulties in implementing centralized policies in areas such as tax collection, military recruitment, and administrative reforms. The study shows that agriculture and animal husbandry were the main sources of livelihood in Hakkari, and its location on caravan routes contributed to the vitality of trade. At the same time, the ethnic and religious diversity, with Nestorian, Kurdish, Turkmen, and Armenian communities living together, determined the administrative choices of the Ottomans within the framework of the millet system. Hakkari's administrative structure was periodically linked to the provinces of Van, Erzurum, and Kurdistan. One of the most noteworthy aspects of this study is its assessment of the impact of the Tanzimat reforms on Hakkari. Despite efforts at centralization, resistance from local tribes and the geographical challenges of the region limited the implementation of the reforms. In this respect, the study makes a significant contribution to the literature by analyzing the administrative structures and regional practices of the Ottoman eastern provinces within a historical context.