A Monetary History of the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman empire stood at the crossroads of intercontinental trade at the dawn of the era of capitalism. This volume examines the monetary history of that empire from its beginnings in the fourteenth century to the end of the first world war. Through a detailed examination of the currencies and related institutions of an empire which stretched from the Balkans through Anatolia, Syria, Egypt and the Gulf to the Maghrib, the book demonstrates the complexity of the monetary arrangements and their evolution in response to both local developments and global economic forces. The volume also affords some valuable insights into social and political history and the evolution of Ottoman institutions. This is an important book by one of the most distinguished economic historians in the field.
- Monetary history of one of the largest and most important empires from fourteenth century to demise in early twentieth century
- Written by one of the best known economic historians in the field
- Social and political implications of study will mean a broad cross-section of interest from historians through social historians to economic historians
Reviews & endorsements
'This book is valuable both as a detailed history of money throughout the Ottoman period and as a challenge to various established views on Ottoman history.' Journal of Islamic Studies
'This book is a singular triumph, a masterpiece (albeit one to be expected from such an eminent economic historian) and indispensable for European economic historians.' John Munro, EH.NET
'… this is an impressive work … this book presents new results and should stimulate further research. Buy it for the numismatics, and get all the rest for free.' Scandinavian Economic History Review
Product details
December 2004Paperback
9780521617116
332 pages
229 × 152 × 23 mm
0.5kg
45 b/w illus. 1 map 16 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- List of maps, graphs and tables
- List of illustrations
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Note on transliteration
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Trade and money at the origins
- 3. Interventionism and debasements as policy
- 4. The emerging monetary system
- 5. Credit and finance
- 6. Money and empire
- 7. The price revolution in the Near East revisited
- 8. Debasement and disintegration
- 9. In the absence of domestic currency
- 10. The new Kurus
- 11. Linkages with the periphery
- 12. The great debasement
- 13. From bimetallism to the “limping gold standard”
- 14. Conclusions
- Appendices
- Bibliography
- Index.