Regulating Non-Muslim Communities in the Seventeenth-Century Ottoman Empire: Catholics and Capitulations

This book provides new insight into how capitulations regulated Catholics in the Ottoman Empire by exploring unpublished archival material and offering a fresh perspective on European translations of primary sources.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating volume delves into the intricate and previously unpublished archival material, shedding light on the profound ways in which capitulations governed Catholics within the Ottoman Empire. It goes beyond the well-known cases of the French capitulations of 1604 and 1673, unveiling the often overlooked religious privileges granted by the Ottoman sultans to Catholic rulers in various European territories. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, the author presents a fresh perspective on how European translations, considered the primary sources of previous scholarly works, portrayed a distorted understanding of the status of Catholics under Muslim rule.

The book explores the religious privileges granted to Catholic rulers in Venice, the Holy Roman Empire, Poland-Lithuania, the Protestant Dutch Republic, and Orthodox Russia. It includes many of the author's own translations and transliterations, offering a fresh perspective on how these translations shaped the understanding of Catholicism in Europe.

The author argues that European translations, often influenced by political and religious agendas, presented a biased view of Catholicism in the Ottoman Empire. They highlight the complexities and nuances of the relationship between Catholics and Muslims, challenging the notion of a simple binary of oppression and tolerance.

The volume provides valuable insights into the historical context of the Ottoman Empire and its interactions with Catholic Europe. It sheds light on the challenges faced by Catholic communities and the strategies they employed to navigate the complex web of imperial politics and religious persecution.

Overall, this captivating volume offers a fresh and comprehensive perspective on the role of capitulations in shaping the lives of Catholics in the Ottoman Empire. It is a must-read for scholars and enthusiasts of history, religion, and cultural studies.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032066561