A Mountain Village of İzmir: An Ethnohistorical Study of Yamanlar and the Yamanlar Yuruks Ozan Uştuk / İzmir’in Bir Dağ Köyü: Yamanlar ve Yamanlar Yörükleri Üzerine Etnotarihsel Bir İnceleme

Abstract

This study examines the history, language, social, and economic transformation of the Yuruks living in the Yamanlar Village located in the Karşıyaka district, where there is relatively little information in the literature despite its proximity to the Izmir city center. Information collected from the Ottoman Era cemetery adjoining the village reveals that the Yamanlar Yuruks have lived here for at least 400 years. Mount Yamanlar, where the village is located, is of great importance because of its ancient history, as it witnessed the founding of Izmir (Smyrna). The social and economic lifestyle in the village has transformed as the city expanded toward residential areas atop Mount Yamanlar. The loss of traditional livelihood practices challenged the villagers and severely influenced their customs, which might be considered valuable pieces of cultural heritage. In this study, we conducted fieldwork, during which various data collection methods and techniques were employed to describe daily life in the village. Within the scope of this study, semi-structured and unstructured interviews were conducted with the local people, and an oral historical study was carried out. With this method, we aimed to present an ethnohistorical description of the Yamanlar Village by trying to establish a balance between the analysis of both written documents and oral data to make sense of the social and economic change it has undergone and to contribute to the literature on Izmir Yuruks.

Keywords

• yamanlar village
• yamanlar yuruks
• ethnohistorical research
• izmir(smyrna)
• economic and social change