Ottoman Market Regulation and Inspection in the Early Modern Period

Abstract

This article looks at Ottoman market regulation policies and practices, by highlighting some turning points in their evolution in the early modern period. The task of the Ottoman market inspector evolved to focus largely on the mundane or economic affairs of the market, diverging from previous practices in Islamicate societies. The study interprets particularities of Ottoman market regulation policies by accounting for nuanced interpretations of the implementation of rules regarding non-Muslim subjects, overlapping jurisdictions between policing and market inspection, and the increasing intricacies of tax farming.