The Economic Structure of the Kiğı District Between the 16th and 18th Centuries
This study aims to analyze the economic structure of the Kiğı District under Ottoman rule between the 16th and 18th centuries, particularly within the framework of mining, trade, crafts and artisanal activities, agriculture, animal husbandry, and the taxation system. Within the scope of the research, Ottoman archival documents were systematically examined, and fundamental economic data concerning the region were evaluated through these sources. The documents shed light, on the one hand, on the state-controlled operation processes of mines of strategic importance in Kiğı and the tax regulations implemented; and on the other hand, they clearly reveal the significance of the region’s economic activities in terms of Ottoman provincial finance and central administration. It has also been observed that issues such as timar allocations, tax structures, and the distribution of labor were recorded in detail. Minting activities in the district stood out as a remarkable element in terms of the region’s commercial circulation. Furthermore, although Kiğı did not hold the legal status of a çiftlik (imperial estate), it is understood from some archival records that special types of taxes, such as resm-i zemin, were implemented. This is significant in terms of understanding how Ottoman provincial administration shaped economic relations in Kiğı. As a result, this interdisciplinary analysis, established by evaluating archival sources together with scholarly studies, aims to contribute to both the economic and social history of the Kiğı District.

Keywords
Kiğı District, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Mining, Taxation System