Administrative, social and economic history of Merzifon district (1839-1914)

Ottoman statesmen, taking the useful improvements in the west as a model in the fields of military, education, science and technic, tried to adapt those which they considered beneficial for the survivability of the state since the Tulip Period (1718-1730). However, this attempt was not continuous, regular, or comprehensive until the Tanzimat 's declaration since it faced strong opposition inside. With the proclamation of Tanzimat Edict in 1839, the Ottoman State's struggle for westernization had entered into a new process, by enlarging its scope and being accelerated. As a consequence of westernization struggles in the period from Tanzimat Edict in 1839 to the beginning of the World War I in 1914, significant changes took place in the Ottoman social structure and state organization. These changes did not only affect the central organization of the state and the people living in the capital, but also changed the regional organization and the structure of the provincial society. Local historical studies have recently become important in order to trace the regional effects of the reform process in the period, beginning with Tanzimat and many other studies have been carried on in the province, towns and districts. With its increasing significance in the Ottoman Period in 19th century, Merzifon was a crucial centre to understand the rural administrative organization, education system, social and economic features of the Ottoman Empire. Between 1839 and 1914, in parallel with the country as a whole, the effects of westernization efforts were also felt on Merzifon District in Amasya Province in the borders of Sivas State. There were significant changes in the administrative structure, the education organization, the public structure and the district's economy. New administrative and educational institutions came up, settlements of immigrants caused a considerable rise in the population besides its regular increase. Although the social inequality between muslims and non-muslims disappeared, the affairs between these two communities deteriorated irreplaceably as a result of missionary activities and foreign provacations. Tax system changed in the field of economy and the varieties of the land which was cultivated and the agricultural crops increased. Farming and cattle breeding continued being the most effective activity. In this thesis study, the administrative organization and its distribution, educational, social and economic state of the district in the 19th century as well as the changes in these headings have been examined. In order to examine these changes in detail, the documents concerning the district in the Presidential Ottoman Archive have been used together with temettuat registrations of the previous censuses, population registries, şer'iyye records, governmental, educational and Sivas State salnames.