Sofia in the first half of the XVIIIth century

Sofia that exist on the main road line in the Balkan peninsula provide connection between Asia and Europe, has historical importance with its strategic positions. After the conquest of Ottomans in 1385, the city was incorporated into Rumeli province then became the center city of the province. The city had developed during the XVIth Century and with its foundations and demographical structures it gained the identity of classical Islamic city. However, negative developments in the Ottoman Empire in the XVII. and XVIIIth centuries affected Sofia too, and caused the city regressed. In this thesis the physical, administrative, demographic, social and economic situation of Sofia in the first half of the XVIIIth century are discussed. The thesis has four parts. In the introduction, the basis, the sources and the historical development of Sofia are mentioned. First part are related to the physical structure. In the second part the administratve structure is examined within the context of province, sanjak and kaza relations and given information about örfi and şer'i administrator. In the third part, the social life and the demographic structure and in the fourth part the economic and the commercial life of Sofia are examined.