Wealth Inequality in Galata in the First Half of the 17th Century: Evidence from Probate Records

Year 2025, Issue: 86, 45 - 70, 04.07.2025

Gökhan Gelegen

https://doi.org/10.26650/iutd.1591105

Abstract

The issue of inequality has been one of most important discussion topics in the field of economics for a long time. Statistical tools combine with the ease of access to data, economic historians have recently expanded their field of study to include pre-industrial period. Inequality for the Ottoman society has also recently started to be discussed, albeit belatedly. Probate records, which are the outputs of the inheritance process found in Court Registers, provide unique information about ordinary people. In light of the probate records, this article is a study of history from below that discuss the distribution of wealth in Galata in the first half of the seventeenth century. In addition to the determination of inequality the possible relationship of gender, title, location and some markers with wealth distribution was discussed in the study. Additionally, access to each element of wealth and the contribution of each of these types of wealth to general inequality were calculated in the study in which wealth inequality was decomposed through different forms of wealth.

Keywords

Inequality, Probate Record, Forms of Wealth, Galata

17. Yüzyılın İlk Yarısında Galata’da Servet Eşitsizliği: Tereke Kayıtlarından Bulgular

Abstract

Eşitsizlik konusu uzunca bir süredir iktisat biliminin en önemli tartışma konularından biri olmaya devam ediyor. Özellikle veriye ulaşım ve çeşitli araçlar vasıtasıyla veriyi işlemenin kolaylaşmasıyla birlikte iktisat tarihçilerinin çalışma alanları endüstri öncesi dönemi de kapsayacak şekilde genişledi. Osmanlı toplumu gecikmeli de olsa eşitsizlik araştırmalarına konu olmakta. Kadı sicillerinde bulunan ve miras paylaşım sürecinin çıktıları olan tereke kayıtları sıradan insanlara dair eşsiz bilgiler sunar. Bu çalışma, tereke kayıtları ışığında 17. yüzyılın ilk yarısında Galata’da servet dağılımını konu alan bir aşağıdan tarih denemesidir. Çalışmada Galata’daki eşitsizliğin tespitine ek olarak cinsiyet, unvan, konum ve birtakım belirteçlerin servet dağılımı ile olası ilişkisi tartışılmıştır. Ayrıca servet eşitsizliğinin farklı servet formları üzerinden ayrıştırıldığı çalışmada her bir servet unsuruna erişim ve bu servet türlerinin her birinin genel eşitsizliğe olan katkısı hesaplanmıştır.

Keywords

Eşitsizlik, Tereke, Servet Biçimleri, Galata

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