Wrested from the rule of the Venetians, the island of Cyprus took on
cultural shadings of enormous complexity as a new province of the
Ottoman empire, involving the compulsory migration of hundreds of Muslim
Turks to the island from the nearby Karamna province, the conversion of
large numbers of native Greek Orthodox Christians to Islam, an abortive
plan to settle Jews there, and the circumstances of islanders who had
formerly been held by the venetians. Delving into contemporary archival
records of the lte sixteenth and early seventeenth conturies,
particularly judicial refisters, Professor Jennings uncovers the island
society as seen through local law courts, public works, and charitable
institutions.