An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire (Economic & Social History of the Ottoman Empire) [Paperback]

Halil Inalcik (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521574560 | ISBN-13: 978-0521574563 | Publication Date: May 13, 1997

This major contribution to Ottoman history is now published in paperback in two volumes: the original single hardback volume (CUP 1995) has been widely acclaimed as a landmark in the study of one of the most enduring and influential empires of modern times. The authors provide a richly detailed account of the social and economic history of the Ottoman region, from the origins of the Empire around 1300 to the eve of its destruction during World War One. The breadth of range and the fullness of coverage make these two volumes essential for an understanding of contemporary developments in both the Middle East and the post-Soviet Balkan world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For years to come, this volume will be the standard reference work on the economic and social history of the Ottoman Empire..." Choice

Book Description

This major contribution to Ottoman history is now published in paperback in two volumes: the original single hardback volume (1995) has been widely acclaimed as a landmark in the study of one of the most enduring and influential empires of modern times. The authors provide a richly detailed account of the social and economic history of the Ottoman region, from the origins of the Empire around 1300 to the eve of its destruction during World War One. The breadth of range and the fullness of coverage make these two volumes essential for an understanding of contemporary developments in both the Middle East and the post-Soviet Balkan world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521574560
• ISBN-13: 978-0521574563
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,351,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best review of ottoman social and economic history, April 12, 2000

By 

Olcay Cetinbas (Ýstanbul,Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire (Economic & Social History of the Ottoman Empire) (Paperback)

if someone wants to investigate ottoman history Inalcýk's books may be sophisticated guides for him.He managed to approach with a new methodology to ottoman history with a special emphasis on social and economic life.He wrote a lot of papers and books stemming from his own archieval studies which became main sources for ottoman history studies. In this book Ýnalcýk discusses the most neglected period of ottoman social and economic history,with little attention to political history that had been widely discussed by his collegues before.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars from the archives: nuts and bolts about agriculture & trade, January 13, 2002

By 

Tom L. Forest (Forest Grove, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire (Economic & Social History of the Ottoman Empire) (Paperback)

I wouldn't say that social history enters much into the book. The authors have written a straightforward translation and interpretation of the Ottoman archives laying out patterns in revenue from land taxes and customs fees. Reading like a series of focused essays without quite as much synthesis as I would like, still it was a worthwhile read. Most valuable were the new insights I got into the relative importance of trades routes and the organization of land ownership and taxation over time. Also interesting to see was the primacy of slaves and silk in the customs revenue stream, and the impact of commercial motives on Ottoman military expansion. All in all, this is a fine book for those wanting deep knowledge of the early Ottoman economy, civil and state.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best in Ottoman Studies, April 10, 2001

By 

dndnd (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire (Economic & Social History of the Ottoman Empire) (Paperback)

People often avoid books like this because they are not as easy readers as "popular" history books, which often do rely on other people's research. Inalcik's work is amazingly detailed and accurate in details. This book is one of his many valuable contributions to this field. Understanding the economic and social forces at play in this time period has an importance beyond the Ottoman history, as most readers of this book would agree.