History Studies

Öz

Öz

Öz

All existing living spaces in settlements constitute the physical environment. A healthy life for all living things is possible with a clean environment. A clean environment in cities depends on keeping all common spaces clean and having sewer networks for all wastewater. With the emergence of cities, city administrators began to establish units responsible for cleaning and sewerage systems.
Before the establishment of the municipal organizations during the Ottoman period, the cleaning works in the cities were carried out under the supervision of the garbage Subaşıs working under the kadis. Regulations were enacted for environmental cleaning, and sewer networks were built for toilet sewers in settlements. In Tokat, which is one of the ancient cities in Anatolia, importance was given to environmental cleanliness, and main and secondary channels were built to drain the sewage from the toilets. These canals, called Kariz, are cleaned twice a year by the Garbage Subasi, who is responsible for the cleaning works of the city. The wages of the cleaning workers were collected from the owners of households and businesses or from kariz foundations.
In this article, the cleaning of the environment and sewerage network in Tokat before the establishment of the municipal organization was examined with the help of Tokat Shari'ah Registers and examination works. The aim of the study is to contribute to the environmental cleaning culture of Tokat in particular and of the Ottoman Empire in general.