An appraisal of the impact of reform on society: the case of early Tanzimat, 1839-1856

The early Tanzimat era (1839-1856) constitutes an important period in Ottoman history studies. However, many studies were based on state-oriented analyses and do not give adequate attention to social history. In order to understand the era in full terms and within the boundaries of state-society relations, societal segments should also be included and carefully examined. This thesis aims to examine concerning the era from the lens of social history and focuses on the Ottoman public opinion formation in nineteenth century against the political and economic changes. Specifically, it investigates inter-communal relations between Muslim and non-Muslim groups over spy reports collected in İstanbul on 1840-1844. The first two chapters are based on the state level analyses and legal background in order to have concrete basis of the reactions. The third chapter proposes micro-political analysis for the reactions of nonelite segments within a broader historical conjuncture of the period and investigates the possible causes behind the public opinion formation process in nineteenth century İstanbul