Family institution in Antalya from Ottaman to Turkish Repuclic (1908-1945)

A family is the smallest and most basic unit in a society. The development or devastation of a society is equivalent to the structure of the family culture and association. It is known that the family culture has also deteriorated during the periods when the Ottoman State began to decline economically, militarily and socially. The Ottoman Empire which accepted the supremacy of the West, has begun to make innovations in many areas and the family and women have taken their shares in this sense. The family began to modernize, especially in the Second Constitutionalist period, the women were out of their houses, they are involved in education and business, and however the women's movements have become widespread in a visible way. Antalya city, which had an old and archaic tradition, because it had a multicultural structure, was extremely rich in terms of family institution in the Ottoman Empire and Republic of Turkey. Many different nations lived together in Antalya in Ottoman Empire in the early 1900's. These were Muslims, Greeks, Armenians, Jews and Copts. These communities have sustained their family cultures together in respect and tolerance and passed to the future generations. In the family law of Ottoman period, Ottoman Code of Civil Law (Mecelle) was applied. During the Ottoman period in Antalya, was taken care of the family life and marriages and divorces have been tried in the sight of the law. The family life in Antalya with the proclamation of the republic was preserved the, by creating a synthesis with the modern world culture and has been maintained its existence. With the adoption of the Civil Code in 1926, women and men were equalized in the family law and were pacified a healthy structure. During the Republic period in Antalya was taken care of family culture profoundly and this culture was supported by society and government agencies. Ataturk's principles and reforms were accepted quickly in the whole city and took place in the family structure. In Antalya which has a patriarchal structure, women were protected particularly with reforms and were tried to be made spiritedly in society. We see that the women are at the forefront of education and business, is supported the participation in meetings, ballrooms and activities in the city.