A Mode of Space Production in the Nineteenth Century: Parceling (Ýfraz) as a Method of Land Commodification and Urbanization in Late Ottoman Empire

This thesis deals with a specific method of space production which is called ifraz. Ifraz means dividing a larger piece of land into smaller, and this method may be implemented in various ways depending on the context. This study will focus on parceling empty suburban areas to commodify nature and sell and transform agricultural forests, gardens, and yards into built areas. I will briefly demonstrate the literature on urban history, land, property, and infrastructure to base my findings on ifraz and urbanization. Through a more extensive set of the archival scan, ifraz, in general, will be demonstrated as an intensified type of space production in the nineteenth century, accelerating significantly with the Tanzimat Edict.