Süleymaniye- a case-study of an intra- mural neighbourhood during the nineteenth century in İstanbul

Abstract

With the concept of mahalle as the key concept to grasp everyday life in the Ottoman Empire, this thesis tries to understand ordinary life in a not very ordinary neighbourhood, the Süleymaniye mahalle in Istanbul. Süleymaniye, once inhabitedby religious, military and educational elites, in the contemporary discourse advancedto a symbol for the riches of the lost Empire without examining, however, the nineteenth century. This case-study on the mahalle focusses on the turbulent years1815 to 1885 with an attempt to observe change in the institutional structure of thecity, the social make-up of the mahalle and its built environment.It offers insights into the ways these three aspects – institutional, social and builtchange – mutually influence each other and gives hints to the question, which of these changes actually affected the micro-scale. In the process of this undertaking,the concept of the mahalle as a distinct and identity-generating community with poorand rich living side by side is juxtaposed with mahalle borders in flux and a clear socioeconomic segregation. An unexpected picture of a mahalle emerges with a high share of female property and illicit activities in a neighbourhood that at least until 1885 is still one of the principal areas in Istanbul.