ABSTRACT

Throughout the historical process, the culture of clothing, which originated from the need for protection and covering with the existence of humanity, has changed and shaped according to the geographical conditions, religious and value judgments, customs and traditions, cultural and economic conditions. From this perspective, the culture of clothing offers significant clues to reveal a society's customs, traditions, and religious themes, or determining its socio-economic and socio-cultural structure as well. Moreover, the culture of clothing provides an insight into the daily lives, living standards, production and consumption habits of the people belonging to different religions, cultures, traditions, customs, genders, ages, and social and economic levels.

İnheritance registers hold an important place in identifying the culture of clothing in Ottoman cities. These registers, also known as metrukât or muhallefât defterleri (registers), documented all movable and immovable properties left behind by deceased individuals, all their debts and credits, all fees taken by the court, and how the remaining inheritance was divided among the heirs according to the sharia principles. In this respect, the one hundred and forty male inheritance registers whichs cattered among the şer‘iyye registries (sharia court records) provide some clues with us in identifying the culture of men's clothing in Manastır and the fundamental elements that determined this culture.