Family Life in the Ottoman Mediterranean
A Social History

'In his superb social history of the differing property strategies pursued by Muslim families in contrasting Levantine settings, Beshara Doumani, our leading reader of the essential sources - the litigation records, wills and contracts preserved in the registers of the shariʿa courts - addresses pre-modern forms of estate planning based on the venerable Islamic legal institution of the private, or family endowment, and also makes important new observations concerning the agency of women.' Brinkley Messick, Columbia  University, New York

'Brilliantly capturing the determined will of women to master their own fate, control family property, and live comfortable lives, Beshara Doumani's comparative study of waqf and property devolution in Nablus and Tripoli from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries breaks through court cases to reveal how micro struggles over kinship and power expose the macro foundations of law and society of that period - and lay the foundation for the tools of modern state governance.' Suad Joseph, Distinguished Professor, University of California, Davis

'… an outstanding contribution to Ottoman and Middle Eastern social history. It is also a testimony to the intellectual gains that come from painstaking and labor intensive research … This book is essential, and delightful, reading for anyone interested in the history of the family, of gender and of property regimes in the Middle East, as well as the social history of the Ottoman Empire.' Molly Greene, Middle East Journal

'This book is the starting point for researchers interested in Sharia court records in Greater Syria (1650–1850). Numerous charts, genealogical tables, maps, photos, and an appendix that discusses and indexes the court records of Tripoli and Nablus enrich the text. This sophisticated, fine-grained study is meant for advanced students and specialists. Recommended.' J. Tallon, Choice

'Doumani's tightly knit argument for the historical dynamism and flexibility of Islamic legal traditions and against monolithic and unchanging notions of family and gender in the Ottoman Mediterranean is a remarkable achievement.' Najwa al-Qattan, The Journal of Interdisciplinary History

'The book is a significant contribution to the newly emerging field in Middle Eastern studies that examines the political economy of family and household formation through long-term comparative analysis of demographic and legal resources … The rich and diverse bibliography and extensive notes make the book essential for students of family, gender and legal history.' Efe Erünal, Continuity and Change

'… it makes a significant contribution to the historiography on law in the Ottoman domains.' Guy Burak, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East

'… Doumani's study makes crucial contributions to the study of the family and kinship in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond … Doumani's book opens space for further use of these records, especially to learn more about Islamic legal history and the relation of sharia, state, and community.' Nada Moumtaz, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East

'… the beauty of Doumani's book is that he insists on the productive labor of both quantitative and qualitative methods … The success of his book stands as a reminder of the cost of one-size-fits-all PhD timelines and evaluation standards that emphasize quantity over quality.' Julia Stephens, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East

'Doumani's book is extremely insightful … constitutes a significant landmark in the family and social histories of the Ottoman Middle East.' Iris Agmon, Journal of Levantine Studies