Palestinian Peasants and Ottoman Officials
Rural Administration around Sixteenth-Century Jerusalem

A unique study of rural administration in the Ottoman Empire that explores the relationship between Palestinian peasants and Ottoman provincial officials around Jerusalem in the mid-sixteenth century.

Amy Singer (Author)

9780521476799, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 November 1994

220 pages, 3 maps 12 tables
22.8 x 15.4 x 1.4 cm, 0.33 kg

"Singer is to be complimented for her efforts. She has written a concise and engaging study...Singer's work is so valuable...Singer's book shows that some details of Ottoman peasants' history can be retrieved by a determined scholar." International Journal of Middle East Studies

In a unique study of rural administration in the Ottoman Empire, Amy Singer explores the relationship between Palestinian peasants and Ottoman provincial officials around Jerusalem in the mid-sixteenth century. With the use of court records, the author provides a detailed account of local conditions of production, the mechanisms for assessing and collecting taxes, and the strategies that were evolved in evading them. The book emphasises the complex, colourful and interactive nature of Ottoman provincial administration, which, while obliged to extract revenues from the peasants and impress them with the power of imperial authority, was nevertheless profoundly influenced by local conditions and traditional practices in its dealings with the populace.

1. Peasants, Palestine, and the Ottoman Empire
2. Aspects of authority
3. The rules of local administration
4. Real accounts and accounting
5. Between rebellion and oppression
6. Realities and routines
Appendices.

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