Jerusalem was never just another Ottoman town, but in the heyday of the
Ottoman Empire it displayed many of the characteristics of a Muslim
traditional society. Professor Cohen makes full use of the rich and
hitherto unexplored Arabic and Turkish archives relating to this period
to reconstruct a vivid and detailed picture of everyday life in this
lively urban centre. His study focuses on the major guilds of
sixteenth-century Jerusalem - butchers, soap-producers and dealers,
millers and bakers, describing and analysing their production methods,
prices and measures, and the services they provided for the local
population. In addition, their economic ties with neighbouring villages,
as well as their social background and inter-relations are discussed.
The author shows how this detailed knowledge can lead to a better
understanding of the longer-term changes in the economy of the city and
of the Empire as a whole.