Natural disasters in Erzurum province during the Ottoman Empire (19th century)

The 19th century was a critical period for the Ottoman Empire, marked by both structural modernization processes in administrative, military, and bureaucratic fields, and struggles with severe crises and transformations. Erzurum province, one of the most strategic centers on the empire's eastern border, faced not only political turmoil but also devastating natural disasters that profoundly shook its socio-economic structure. This thesis examines, from a holistic perspective, the earthquakes, epidemics (especially cholera and plague), famine, fires, and floods that occurred in Erzurum province and its surrounding areas during the 19th century; and analyzes the structural impacts of these disasters on the region's demographic, economic, and financial structure. The primary source for this research is the Presidential Ottoman Archives documents. Furthermore, findings obtained through qualitative research and document analysis methods demonstrate a significant transformation in the state's disaster management reflexes during the 19th century. As a result of centralization and bureaucratization efforts, disaster response and aid processes (provision of food, tax exemptions, reconstruction) were found to be much more systematic and documented compared to previous centuries. The establishment of modern quarantine organizations and the use of support from international medical experts, particularly in combating cross-border epidemics such as cholera, reveal a shift towards a scientific approach in Ottoman crisis management. In conclusion, this study argues that natural disasters are not merely natural events causing instantaneous destruction, but rather fundamental historical turning points that shrink the agricultural economy of Erzurum province, trigger large-scale migration movements, alter the demographics, and reshape the power/coordination balance between local and central administration.