Studies in the economic history of the Middle East : from the rise of Islam to the present day

First Published in 2004. Did medieval Muslims have the concept of a'social class'? If not, can we usefully employ the term in analysing their society? Were there such things as guilds in the medieval Middle East? Would we understand the economic de- cline of Mamluk Egypt better if we used paradigms derived from the study of the economic history of England and Italy in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries? How much can the enormous fiscal archive of the Ottoman Empire tell us about population history? Why was the Middle East so backward, if indeed it was, compared with the rest of the Afro-Asian world in the nineteenth century? Have Iran and Iraq better prospects for economic growth than otherwise comparable countries thanks to their oil royalties? Or are these paradoxically a hindrance rather than a help? The study of the economic history of the Middle East in Islamic times is notoriously underdeveloped. This volume contains papers discussed at an international conference held at the School of Oriental and African Studies in 1967, together with three short critical essays which attempt to tie them together. Some papers are specific contributions to research, others survey wider areas. The volume is not a comprehensive history or a systematic inventory, but it is hoped that, in addition to presenting a set of papers which are interesting in themselves, it will give the reader a tolerable idea of the state of studies in the field. Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Preface 10 Part One: The Middle Ages 12 Introductory Remarks • Abraham Udovitch 14 Guilds in Middle Eastern History • Gabriel Baer 22 Quelques Mots sur le Déclin Commercial du Monde Musulman à la Fin du Moyen Âge • Claude Cahen 42 Monetary Aspects of Medieval Near Eastern Economic History • Andrew S. Ehrenkreutz 48 Mediterranean Trade in the Eleventh Century: Some Facts and Problems • S. D. Goitein 62 Egyptian Commercial Policy in the Middle Ages • Subhi Labib 74 Sources for the Economic History of the Middle East • Bernard Lewis 89 England to Egypt, 1350–1500: Long-term Trends and Long-distance Trade • Robert Lopez, Harry Miskimin, Abraham Udovitch 104 The Size and Value of the Iqṭāʽ in Egypt, 564–741 A.H./1169–1341 A.D. • Hassanein Rabie 140 Histoire économique et Histoire des Classes sociales dans le Monde Musulman • Maxime Rodinson 150 Part Two: The Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries 168 Résolution 170 Introductory Remarks • M. A. Cook 171 Research on the Ottoman Fiscal Surveys • Ömer Lûtfi Barkan 174 Les Celep et leur Rôle dans la Vie Economique des Balkans à l’Epoque Ottomane (XVe–XVIIIe s.) • Bistra Cvetkova 183 English Imports from the Middle East, 1580–1780 • Ralph Davis 204 The Ottoman Economic Mind and Aspects of the Ottoman Economy • Halil İnalcık 218 Materials of War in the Ottoman Empire • V. J. Parry 230 Sıvış Year Crises in the Ottoman Empire • Halil Sahillioğlu 241 Part Three: The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 264 Introductory Remarks • Hossein Mahdavy 266 Sociology and Economic History: an Essay on Mediation • Anour Abdel-Malek 279 L’Evolution des Structures du Financement du Développement Economique en Egypte de 1952 à 1967 • Samir Amin 294 Historical Obstacles to the Development of a Bourgeoisie in Iran • Ahmad Ashraf 319 Les Cadres Sociaux de l’Economie Agraire dans le Proche-Orient au Début du XIXe Siècle: le cas du Mont Liban • Dominique Chevallier 344 The Role of Foreign Trade in the Economic Development of Iraq, 1864-1964: a Study in the Growth of a Dependent Economy • Mohammad Salman Hasan 357 Growth Models for the Middle East • Z. Y. Hershlag 384 Middle East Economic Development, 1815–1914: the General and the Specific • Charles Issawi 406 Structural Changes in the Egyptian Economy, 1937–1965 • Robert Mabro and Patrick O’Brien 423 Patterns and Problems of Economic Development in Rentier States: the Case of Iran • Hossein Mahdavy 439 The Profitability of Middle Eastern Oil Ventures: a Historical Approach • Zuhayr Mikdashi 479 The Attitudes of British Officials to the Development of the Egyptian Economy, 1882–1922 • E. R. J. Owen 496 The India Office Records as a Source for the Economic History of the Middle East • M. E. Yapp 512 Index 526 Guilds In Middle Eastern History / Gabriel Baer -- Quelques Mots Sur Le Déclin Commercial Du Monde Musulman à La Fin Du Moyen âge / Claude Cahen -- Monetary Aspects Of Medieval Near Eastern Economic History / Andrew S. Ehrenkreutz -- Mediterranean Trade In The Eleventh Century : Some Facts And Problems / S.d. Goitein -- Egyptian Commercial Policy In The Middle Ages / Subhi Labib -- Sources For The Economic History Of The Middle East / Bernard Lewis -- England To Egypt, 1350-1500 : Long-term Trends And Long Distance Trade / Robert Lopez, Harry Miskimin, And Abraham Udovitch -- The Size And Value Of The Iqṭāʻ In Egypt, 564-741 A.h./1169-1341 A.d. / Hassanein Rabie -- Histoire économique Et Histoire Des Classes Sociales Dans Le Monde Musulman / Maxime Rodinson -- Research On The Ottoman Fiscal Surveys / Ömer Lûtfi Barkan -- Les Celep Et Leur Rê Dans La Vie économique Des Balkans à L'époque Ottomane (xve-xviiie S.) / Bistra Cvetkova --^ English Imports From The Middle East, 1580-1780 / Ralph Davis -- The Ottoman Economic Mind And Aspects Of The Ottoman Economy / Halil İnalcik -- Materials Of War In The Ottoman Empire / V.j. Parry -- Siviş Year Crises In The Ottoman Empire / Halil Sahillioğlu -- Sociology And Economic History : An Essay On Mediation / Anouar Abdel-malek -- L'évolution Des Structures Du Financement Du Développement économique En Egypte De 1952 à 1967 / Samir Amin -- Historical Obstacles To The Development Of A Bourgeoisie In Iran / Ahmad Ashraf -- Les Cadres Sociaux De L'économie Agraire Dans Le Proche-orient Au Début Du Xixe Siècle : Le Cas Du Mont Liban / Dominique Chevallier -- The Role Of Foreign Trade In The Economic Development Of Iraq, 1864-1964 : A Study In The Growth Of A Dependent Economy / Mohammad Salman Hasan -- Growth Models For The Middle East / Z.y. Hershlag -- Middle East Economic Development, 1815-1914 : The General And The Specific / Charles Issawi --^ Structural Changes In The Egyptian Economy, 1937-1965 / Robert Mabro And Patrick O'brien -- Patterns And Problems Of Economic Development In Rentier States : The Case Of Iran / Hossein Mahdavy -- The Profitability Of Middle Eastern Oil Ventures : A Historical Approach / Zuhayr Mikdashi -- The Attitudes Of British Officials To The Development Of The Egyptian Economy, 1882-1922 / E.r.j. Owen -- The India Office Records As A Source For The Economic History Of The Middle East / M.e. Yapp. Edited By M. A. Cook. Papers Submitted To A Conference Held At The School Of Oriental And African Studies, In The University Of London In July 1967. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References. 'BEHOLD, your child lives,' the prophet Elijah announced to the widow of Zarephath after a period of famine and drought had threatened the life of her offspring (I Kings 17 : 23).