The social and economic state of Kutahya from Tanzimat to Second Contitutional era (1839-1908)

Kütahya, which dates back to ancient times and hosted a great number of civilizations in the past, had certainly come in to the possession of Turks in the thirteenth century and Ottoman Empire in the fifteenth century. Some reforms were attempted in the state in the nineteenth century after Ottoman Empire had started to lose ground to European countries. It was aimed to secure state's territorial integrity and put an end to the gap between Ottoman Empire and Western powers by proclaiming the Firman of Reforms (Islahat Fermanı), Tanzimat Reforms (Tanzimat Fermanı), and finally the First Constitutional Era (Meşrutiyet) which is a constitutional regime. Anyway these reform movements which are not suitable for the Ottoman state traditions couldn't survive the state, on the contrary put it into dissolution.When we look at the socio-economic condition of the people of Kütahya under these circumstances of Ottoman Empire in nineteenth century, we see that the Muslim people which dominates much of the population are in a lower position than that of Non-muslims. Reform movements served to strengthen Non-muslims increasing their economic and political power. As a result of the Crimean war and Russo-Turkish War which is also known as the 93 War, Emigrants had settled into Ottoman Empire from the Balkans and the Caucasia in this same period. Some of these emigrants were located in Kütahya by the state. Kütahya has gained importance and made a name in international politics with Kütahya Alliance in 1833 and in 1850 with the asylum of Hungarian and Polish refugees that were settled in Kütahya by the Ottoman Empire.Key Words: Tanzimat, Kutahya, Constituonal, Population.