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1909 Adana Massacre, a rebellion that will shake the fate of the Ottoman next year March 31, the same day Vakası’yl started and days during the wave of violence against the Armenians spread around Adana, had left behind huge losses. 106 years ago this massacre began April 13, from Boğaziçi University Department of History Professor Toksöz’l breeze talked to.
Çukurova enrichment live on agriculture coincides with this period. Port of Mersin, is emerging as an important port in the eastern Mediterranean during this period. The construction of the railway at the end of the 1880 Adana-Mersin, Mersin Port is gaining serious attention and becomes almost Beyrut’l the race. Therefore, many expanding trade network. 1905 in Adana is experiencing growth as well as throughout the world. Cotton prices rise with the Port of Mersin, in terms of export volume comes out on top even in Beirut. As well as port and rail foot, the third leg of nomadic peoples, goes quickly become entrenched in this period. State is experiencing as a result of the settlement policy followed since the 1860s. My Upper Plains and around the Ceyhan I also made agricultural production for export. It also put the population migration-related settlement there. Thus Cukurova is growing literally and large farms are starting to be installed. Thus obtained a large income is invested back in the soil. This completely changes the face of the Çukurova.
What is the share of the Armenians in this face change?
Unfortunately not so easy to work with property in Ottoman history. So exactly bilemesek also essential share in the commercial development of the non-Muslims, non-Muslims in the emerging with 1890 as the Armenians. But I’m not talking about an overwhelming majority. Muslims always have in this development. But I can tell the owners of land on a large scale that many of the Armenians in the Ottoman context. But we are talking about a very large geographical area. The presence of Armenians in the Lower Plain and Feke I Haçin more netk that, across the plain, it is not clear enough. In addition to cotton, as well as gardening and the area is well developed in the same period can be said to belong to the majority of Muslims.
Met to nervously by Muslims. League of Muhammadiyah, an important component in this regard. But I do not want to overstate this anxiety too, because there is no indication that overall we have to be worried about. In 1908, often depicted with enthusiasm in the streets. That it occurred in Adana and Mersin in the city center and only non-Muslims should be noted that this enthusiasm for life. In July 1908, but still up to the period from March 31 Incident, already a troubled period of time. We can say it was the same for Cukurova. Economic terms in 1908, the region does not lead to a big change. Therefore, it is yet too early to talk about a social explosion could bring such a change.
Adana in April of 1909 before have such an ethnic conflict environment can be envisaged?
I tried to take much of the track that, but look ahead to what is written in an environment or can anticipate such carnage seems to be something in the air. But it is not possible to clearly see such a plan. The atmosphere is rising dramatically in 1908 as the city’s article. The revolutionary enthusiasm of the Armenian bothers Muslims. This enthusiasm is interpreted as the Armenians do not trust them too much. In March League of Muhammadiyah’s -31 in March just before the Incident because of the Ittihad-i Muhammadiyah community gathered around the volcano newspaper another name- new establishment in Adana made the meeting on the establishment of branches and provocative out there. This massacre, we need to evaluate more than 1908 in the atmosphere. Even allowing the massacre plan but it is still a few weeks before the April.
Armenian massacres of 1894-96, followed by the Adana Massacres of 1909 and the end of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, we think, we can mention the constantly rising wave of violence against the Armenians?
Looking at this question in terms of violence to say yes. However, the need to separate these, 1909 Adana Massacre, similar to the 1894-96 massacres more. After the Constitutional Revolution in 1908. Although there is the case. Because 1909 is a year where there is still in the throes of revolution. However, when examined in terms of regional characteristics, which of course is divided into 1915.
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