Aidin vilayet

The British described Aidin Vilayet as having a "remarkable variety of agriculture", as of 1920. They produced grains and cotton, specifically in Aydın and Nazilli. The region also produced opium, tobacco, and valonia oak. Fruit was one of the most popular exports, with figs and grapes being popular. Before World War I, fig production was up, with an expansive increase in production and exportation via railway. Grapes were used to produce raisins and licorice was also produced in the region. It was noted as growing wild along the Büyük Menderes River. It was exported to the United States and United Kingdom.

Aidin, as of 1920, was considered to be the world's supply center for emery, specifically in the areas between Tire and Söke.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Anatolia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=105|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11766/view/1/105/}} In the early 20th century, Aidin was also noted for large deposits of chromium, specifically near Mount Olympus and in the southwestern region of the vilayet.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Anatolia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=103|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11766/view/1/103/}}{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Anatolia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=104|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11766/view/1/104/}} Antimony and mercury were also found in the area.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Anatolia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=106|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11766/view/1/106/}}

Carpet was manufactured in Vilayet, mainly in Smyrna, but with carpet being made throughout the region, including in Kula, Uşak, Gördes and Isparta.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Anatolia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=110|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11766/view/1/110/}} After World War I, sales declined, however, Britain remained a major importer of Turkish carpets from Aidin. Carpets were mainly produced by women.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Anatolia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=111|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11766/view/1/111/}}

As of 1920, the region was noted as having 6,000 square kilometers of forest. The west and southwest had the most thickly forested areas. The British described Makri as being "rich in excellent timber." Cedars were found in Makri, with oak and pine throughout the vilayet. In the early 20th-century, deforestation had begun via private companies of the vilayet. Sawmills had been erected, with Makri having its own steam-run sawmill. Most trees were felled by hand at this time. Tavas also had a timber economy during this period.{{cite book|last=Prothero|first=G.W.|title=Anatolia|year=1920|publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|location=London|page=97|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11766/view/1/97/}}

File:Vilayet of Aydın (1881) Boundaries and Ethnic Makeup.png

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• Mehmed Sabri Pasha (1867-1868)
• Hekim Ismail Pasha (1868-1869)
• Veliüddin Pasha (1869-1870)
• Mehmed Sadik Pasha (1870-1872)
• Hussein Avni Pasha (1872-1872)
• Mustafa Sureyya Pasha (1872-1873)
• Hamdi Pasha (1873-1874)
• Ahmed Rasim Pasha (1874-1875)
• Ahmed Pasha (1875-1875)
• Ahmed Esad Pasha (1875-1875)
• Hurshit Pasha (1875-1876)
• Sabri Pasha (1876-1880)
• Midhat Pasha (1880-1881)
• Ali Pasha (1881-1882)
• Kâmil Pasha (1883-1883)
• Nashit Pasha (1883-1885)
• Halil Rifat Pasha (1885-1886)
• Nafiz Pasha (1886-1889)
• Halil Rifat Pasha (1889-1891)
• Abdurrahman Nureddin Pasha (1891-1893)
• Hasan Fehmi Pasha (1893-1895)
• Kâmil Pasha (1895-1907)
• Faik Bey (1907-1908)
• Sherif Mehmed Rauf Pasha (1908-1909)
• Ali Galib Bey (1909-1909)
• Mehmed Ferid Pasha (1909-1909)
• Kiazim Pasha (1909-1909)
• Mahmud Muhtar Pasha (1909-1910)
• Hussein Nazim Pasha (1910-1911)
• Celâl Bey (1911-1912)
• Ahmed Reshid Rey (1912-1912)
• Hussein Nazim Pasha (1913-1913)
• Rahmi Arslan (1913-1917)
• Hasan Tahsin Uzer (1918-1918)
• Edhem Bey (1918-1919)
• Nureddin Pasha (1919-1919)
• Kambur Izzeddin (1919-1919)

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Before 1914, the vilayet was subdivided into:[https://archive.org/stream/handbookofasiami01greauoft#page/215 A handbook of Asia Minor] Published 1919 by Naval staff, Intelligence dept. in London. Page 215

1. Smyrna Sanjak, subdivided into the kazas of Smyrna (İzmir, seat of the Vali), Nif, Karaburun, Kuşadası, Çeşme, Ödemiş, Urla, Foça, Bayındır, Menemen, Bergama, Seferihisar and Tire.
2. Sarukhan Sanjak, subdivided into the kazas of Manisa, Alaşehir, Kula, Akhisar, Salihli, Gördes, Demirci, Eşme, Kırkağaç, Soma and Kasaba (Turgutlu).
3. Aidin Sanjak, subdivided into the kazas of Aydın, Nazilli, Bozdoğan, Söke and Çine.
4. Menteshe Sanjak, subdivided into the kazas of Muğla, Milas, Meğri, Bodrum, Köyceğiz and Marmaris.
5. Denizli Sanjak, subdivided into the kazas of Denizli, Tavas, Çal, Buldan, Sarayköy and Garbikaraağaç (Acıpayam).

In 1893, there were in total 39 Kaza (districts). According to the Ottoman census of that year, in the 35 kazas Muslims were the majority. In the kaza of Izmir there was no majority but Muslims were the largest group.Ottoman Population, 1830-1914: Demographic and Social Characteristics, Kemal H. Karpat, pages 122–123, 1985 In the kaza of Foça, Urla and Çesme, comprising the Karaburun Peninsula, Greeks were the majority. However, according to American pre-Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) estimates, the Greek element was the most numerous in Smyrna Sanjak with 375,000 inhabitants, while other groups included Muslims (325,000), Jews (40,000) and Armenians (18,000).{{cite book |last=Gaillard|first=Gaston|title=The Turks and Europe, Greco-Turkish War (1919–22)|publisher=Thomas Murby & Co|page=194|year=1921}}

{{Reflist}}

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{{EB1911 poster|Aidin}}

{{Subdivisions of the Ottoman Empire|expanded = Vilayets}}

Category:History of Aydın Province

Category:History of İzmir Province

Category:History of Manisa Province

Category:History of Muğla Province

Category:1867 establishments in the Ottoman Empire