Making Big Money in 1600: The Life and Times of Isma'Il Abu Taqiyya, Egyptian Merchant (Middle East Studies Beyond Dominant Paradigms) [Hardcover]

Nelly Hanna (Author)

Book Description

Series: Middle East Studies Beyond Dominant Paradigms | Publication Date: May 1998

"Nelly Hanna's work challenges the standard perceptions about Middle East society and economy of the seventeenth century. Both novel in its approach and information, this book's central theme revolves around the rise of an indigenous form of capitalism existing as early as the 1600s."--BOOK JACKET. "Making Big Money in 1600 examines the reemergence of the economic sector and its complex influences on social conditions during this time. By examining the life and work of Ismail Abu Taqiyya, Hanna traces the relationship between economic activities and culture."--BOOK JACKET.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 219 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse Univ Pr (Sd); 1st edition (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815627491
• ISBN-13: 978-0815627494
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,031,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not entirely engaging, but informative, December 8, 2001

By 

Neera "designer & animal lover" (Renton, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Big Money in 1600: The Life and Times of Isma'Il Abu Taqiyya, Egyptian Merchant (Middle East Studies Beyond Dominant Paradigms) (Paperback)

This book describes the life of a merchant (Abu Taqiyya) and some details about his family. You see how he traded, where he traveled, how he negotiated, etc. Also, you see how his family was affected by Abu's merchant lifestyle. It's informative cultural history. But, it's a little slow.

The details sometimes get a little too detailed. It's not a sweeping novel, by any means. This was written by a scholar, so expect to see more detail and analyzation than you would in say, a historical fiction novel.

The book does its job -- teaching you about merchant culture in 17th century middle east. It's just not a "fun" book compared to most.