| Popis: |
Port cities became centres of attention because of their reintroduced role within the new economic developments in the nineteenth century, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition to their economic life, their social structure has been emphasized in numerous studies as a significant component of the character of Mediterranean port cities. The role of their inhabitants in the formation of this social structure has been researched by scholars. Within this context, the relationship between different ethnic groups and communities as well as the relationship between groups from different social strata have become an important issue. To understand the social and cultural structure of these cities, it is necessary to analyse the components and activities of daily life. Popular figures, dignitaries, famous personalities, and local personae are the daily actors of this everyday life and form a city’s main component. Institutions and foundations are another part of this component, which help to develop the social and cultural life of the city and advance its urbanity. This study stemmed from the collections of memories of the residents of Mersin. They were chosen according to the residents’ age, gender, profession, and social status and have all contributed to the various panels organized as five “Mersin in History Colloquia” in the period between 2002 and 2014. The residents’ valuable contributions gave support to the development of a local history that had not been recorded previously. Furthermore, these stories enabled us to focus on questions that are difficult to answer through archival documents. In this chapter, the memories, grouped under certain sub-themes such as gender, religion, trade, and sociability, are evaluated within the general historical context of the relevant periods; thus, a human dimension emerges to add to the already existing hard documentation. |
