Social, economic and cultural life of the muderrisis in Ottoman Western Anatolia (1688-1905)

This dissertation aims to address a notable gap in the existing literature on the Ottoman religious-judicial (ilmiye) institution by focusing on the socio-economic and cultural lives of muderris (professors of Islamic sciences) in the provinces, particularly in Western Anatolia. While previous research has predominantly concentrated on the careers and influence of ilmiye members in central urban areas such as Istanbul, Bursa, and Edirne there remains a dearth of studies exploring the everyday lives, social status, and material culture of those who served in smaller provincial towns. However, the socio-cultural dynamics of the Ottoman provinces were distinct and deserve scholarly attention in their own right. This study takes a corrective approach by investigating muderris based on inheritance (tereke) records from towns such as Afyon, Denizli, İzmir, Kütahya, Manisa, Muğla, and Uşak. The core objective of this study is to explore the socio-economic conditions, daily routines, household items, marital patterns, book ownership, and intellectual roles of these provincial scholars. To achieve this, the research draws upon a wide range of complementary primary sources, including şer'iyye court records (especially tereke registers), temettuat tax surveys, and population records from Ottoman archives. The data derived from these sources were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, enabling a holistic and empirically grounded portrayal of provincial ilmiye life. In conclusion, this study brings to light the overlooked provincial dimension of the Ottoman ilmiye class. By presenting detailed empirical evidence on the lives of muderris in Western Anatolia, it contributes not only to the social history of the Ottoman Empire but also to the historiography of local elites and peripheral scholarly networks. The findings underscore that the Ottoman provinces were not merely passive recipients of imperial authority, but were home to dynamic and distinct social structures with their own intellectual traditions and socio-economic realities.