Collection Avariz and Nüzul Levies in the Ottoman Empire: A Case Study of the Province of Karaman 1620-1700

The avarız and nüzul levies were among the most important of the regular sources of government revenue in the Ottoman empire during the seventeenth century, but there has been relatively little study of them. Originating in the late fifteenth century as irregular imposts levied at times of military need, it is clear that by the first quarter of the seventeenth century avariz and nüzul had become virtually annual levies throughout the majority of the Rumelian and Anatolian provinces. This article examines the nature of these levies as seen through collection procedures in the province of Karaman in the period 1620 to 1700, showing how the Ottoman financial administration developed this relatively new and lucrative source of income in a consistent and fair manner.

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A. Archival documents
1.Avârizhâne Registers in Kamil Kepeci Classification [KK]
2587-1050/1640, 2604-1053/1643, 2623-1065/1655, 2625-1067/1657, 3810-1070/1660, 3354-1074-75/1665, 2651-1080/1670, 2790-1082/1672, 2659-1084/1674, 2665-1086/1676, 3809-1089/1679.
2.Avârizhâne Registers in Maliyeden Mudewer Classifications [MM]
2751-1030/1621, 3862-1038/1628, 3382-1050/1640, 3845-1051/1641, 3074-1051-52/1642, 2808-1055/1645, 3832-1058/1648, 3835-1057-59/1649, 4950-1060/1650, 2780-1061/1651, 1980-1061/1651, 3844-1062/1652, 2989-1064/1654, 3847-1066/1656, 3850-1067-68/1658, 2998-1068/1658, 2749-1068/1658, 2653-1080/1670, 7857-1080/1670, 3067-1073-74/1664, 2783-1075/1665, 3836-1078/1668, 3003-1081/1671, 3834-1081/1671, 2412-1083/1673, 2505-1085/1675, 3841-1088/1678, 3837-1090/1680, 3830-1091/1681, 9480-1096/1686, 2805-1097/1687, 2800-1098/1688, 3839-1098/1688, 2793-1103/1691, 2471-1104/1692, 2987-1106/1694, 3807-1108/1696, 3820-1111/1699, 3826-1112/1700
B. Studies
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Darling, Linda; Revenue-Raising and Legitimacy: Tax Collection and Finance Administration in the Ottoman Empire 1560-1660, New York 1996.
Demirci, Süleyman; The Functioning of Ottoman Avâriz Taxation: An Aspect of the Relationship between Centre and Periphery: A Case Study of the Province of Karaman, 1621-1700, Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, University of Durham, Durham/England, 2001.
___, "Complaints about avâriz assessment and payment in the avariz-tax system: An aspect of the relationship between centre and periphery. A case study of Kayseri, 1618-1700", JESHO-Journal of the Economic and Social Histoiy of the Orien t, 46.4 (November 2003): 437-474
___, "Complaints in the Ottoman arariz-tax system: An aspect of the relationship between centre and periphery. A case study of the Ottoman province of Karaman, 1618-1700 (according to şer'iyye sicilleri)", Paper delivered at. BRISMES 2001 annual conference 15 -18 July: The view from the top: State and People in the Middle East, The University of Edinburgh, (Edinburgh, 2001).
__ , "Seeking justice: Muslim and non-Muslim in the kadi's court. A case study of Kayseri, 1610s-1690s (according to şer'iyye sicilleri of Kayseri)", paper delivered at an international conference held at die University of Walse Lampeter, 3-6th November 2001: 'Andiropology, archaeology and heritage in the Balkans and Anatolia: the life and times ofF WHasluck (1878-1920), (Lampeter, 2001).
Emecen Feridun- ilhan şahin; Osmanlılarda Divân-Bürokrasi-Ahkâm: II. Bâyezid Dönemine Ait 906/1501 Tarihli Ahkâm Defteri, Türk Dünyası Araştırmaları Vakfı, İstanbul, 1994.
Faroqhi, Süreyya; "Crisis and Change, 1590-1699", in An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire, eds. H. İnalcık and D. Quataert, Part II (1600-1914): 411-636, Cambridge, 1994.
Genç, Mehmet; "XVIII. Yüzyıl'da Osmanli Ekonomisi ve Savaş", Yapıt, 4 (1984): 52-61.
Güçer, Lütfi; Osmanli imparatorluğunda Hububat Meselesi ve Hububattan Alman Vegiler, istanbul Üniversitesi iktisat Fakültesi Yayini, istanbul, 1964.
Gündüz, Ahmet; 27 Numarali Kayseri Şer'iyye Sicili HJ035/36-M.1625/26, Metin Transkripsiyonu ve Değerlendirme, Unpublished MA Thesis, Erciyes University, Institute of Social Sciences, Kayseri, 1995.
G.S.P Freeman-Grenville, The Islamic and Christian Calendars AD 622-2222 (AH 1-1650). A complete guide for converting Christian and Islamic dates and dates of festivals, Garnet Publishing, Reading, UK, 1995.
İnalcık, Halil; "Military and Fiscal Transformation in the Ottoman Empire, 1600-1700", AO, VI (1980): 283-337.
Lütfi Paşa Asafnâmesi (Yeni Bir Metin Tesisi Denemesi), Mübahat Kütükoğlu ed., (İstanbul Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Tarih Araştırmaları Merkezi, Edebiyat Fakültesi Basımı, İstanbul, 1991.
McGowan, Bruce; " Osmanlı Avariz-nüzul teşekkülü, 1600-1830" in VIII. Türk Tarih Kongresi, 3 volumes, Türk Tarih Kurumu Basimevi, Ankara 1981, vol 2:1327-31.
____, Economic Life in Ottoman Europe: Taxation, Trade and Struggle for Land, 1600-1800, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981. Tabakoğlu, Ahmet; Gerileme Dönemine Girerken Osmanli Maliyesi, Dergâh Yayınları, ll7;Tarih Dizisi, 10 İstanbul, 1985.