Abstract
The 17 August 1999 İzmit, Turkey, earthquake (M∼7.4) was the latest in a long series of large seismic events to occur along the North Anatolian Fault Zone. The detailed recording of earthquakes in the İzmit region, from anti-quity to recent times, has allowed a unique archive to be developed that is invaluable to present day seismologists. Additionally, historical building practices, in particular the incorporation of the hatıl or ringbeam, indicate that adaptations to earthquakes in the form of seismic cultures were present in Turkey during Byzantine and Ottoman times and can be re-evaluated in relation to contemporary building practices. This is particularly important with respect to the potential threat now facing the population of İstanbul, a large proportion of which are in a highly vulnerable position. This paper suggests that “experts” use this seismic knowledge to produce a meaningful account of earthquake hazard for local people in order to reduce marginalization in case of a future event.