XVI. Asırda Karahisar-ı Sahib Sancağı

Abstract

- 378 SUMMARY `Karahisar-1 Sahip Sanjak` (subdivision of a province), not counting Dinar County, is in great parallel with the boundries of to-day's Afyonkarahisar. Consequently we can say that the geographical conditions were taken into consideration while the boundries of the sanjak were being established. In the XVI th century Karahisar, Sandıklı, Bolvadin, Şuhud and Oynaş districts as well as Barçınlı Countries were located within the boundaries of this sanjak- Almost all of these counties are full of the remembrances of the Seljuks and their Beylics. The complete region fell definitely under the Ottoman rule during the reign of Murad the II nd. The Ottomans who preserved the earlier administrative structure instituted Karahisar as one of the important sanjaks of Anatolian Province. It is important to note that the Sanjak Beys who were sent to the region came in the initial periods from `Çandarlı` Vizier Family. The population of the Sanjak increased steadily during the XVI th century. The general population of the Sanjak in 1528 was 30.211; it had 47.746 pe.r±oc/£^ in 1572. Approximately, its total population in this period varied between 90.000 and 140.000. Therefore, the population in Karahisar Sanjak is rather dense. The economic structure of the Sanjak was based primarily on agriculture and livestock breeding. The same applies to the other Sanjaks. Particularly grain and bean culture was being performed in suitable plains. The presence of productive plateus and meadows provided a suitable base for development of livestock breeding. There was a considerable number of industrial enterprises based on agriculture. There were mills in many villages used for grinding grain. Other facilities such as dyehouses, soap shops, leather processing shops etc were mostly located in Karahisar center. Other towns may be considered pour from the standpoint of industrial concerns.