Economic Life in Ottoman Jerusalem

A vivid and detailed picture of everyday life in Ottoman Jerusalem.

Amnon Cohen (Author)

9780521524353, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 August 2002

188 pages, 6 b/w illus. 1 map 3 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.31 kg

Jerusalem was never just another Ottoman town, but in the heyday of the Ottoman Empire it displayed many of the characteristics of a Muslim traditional society. Professor Cohen makes full use of the rich and hitherto unexplored Arabic and Turkish archives relating to this period to reconstruct a vivid and detailed picture of everyday life in this lively urban centre. His study focuses on the major guilds of sixteenth-century Jerusalem - butchers, soap-producers and dealers, millers and bakers, describing and analysing their production methods, prices and measures, and the services they provided for the local population. In addition, their economic ties with neighbouring villages, as well as their social background and inter-relations are discussed. The author shows how this detailed knowledge can lead to a better understanding of the longer-term changes in the economy of the city and of the Empire as a whole.

List of illustrations
Note on transcription
Introduction
1. Butchers and meat consumption
2. Soap production and olive oil
3. Flour and bread
4. Conclusion
Note on abbreviations
Note on weights, measures and monetary values
Appendices
Notes
Bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB], Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], Asian history [HBJF]