The Kaza of Gümüşhane (Torul) in the Middle of the Seventeenth Century

Abstract

Gümüşhane, which came under Ottoman rule in the fifteenth century, has not only strategic but also economic importance because of the gold, silver and copper mines in the area. Thanks to this the town was reconstructed by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman and as such it contributed a great deal to the state's economy. Gümüşhane's importance continued in the seventeenth century with its seventy mining areas and as the most important and greatest economic contributor of country. In order to determine the socio-economic status of the economically important town the working groups should be defined. Out of the change in mind in seventeenth century Ottoman government changed from the timar to iltizam system, the importance of tahrir writing left its place to avariz and cizye enumeration. Within the restructuring and enumerations in the middle of the seventeenth century the city and countryside constructions and also the miners, soldiers, semi-soldiers and bridge builders living in the city were determined. By this, the socio-economic status of Gümüşhane by the middle of seventeenth century introduced.