The Unsettled Plain: An Environmental History of the Late Ottoman Frontier

The Unsettled Plain examines the environmental transformation of the Ottoman countryside and how it intertwined with migration and displacement, leading to the formation of new societies. Chris Gratien reconstructs Çukurova and illuminates radical changes brought by the modern state, capitalism, war, and technology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

The Unsettled Plain delves into the intricate tapestry of agrarian life within the Ottoman Empire, seeking to unravel the threads that shaped the modern world. Spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the environmental transformation of the Ottoman countryside intertwined with the profound movements of migration and displacement. Muslim refugees, mountain nomads, families forcibly displaced during the Armenian Genocide, and seasonal workers hailing from diverse corners of the empire endured hardships, exile, and dispossession. Their settlement and survival etched the foundations of new societies, emerging within the provincial spaces of the late Ottoman frontier.

In his captivating work, Chris Gratien reconstructs the remarkable story of Çukurova, a region that straddles the historical crossroads of Anatolia and Syria. Through a meticulous exploration of both Ottoman Turkish and Armenian sources, Gratien brings rural populations into the heart of momentous events that unfolded during this transformative period. Ottoman reform, Mediterranean capitalism, the First World War, and the process of Turkish nation-building all played pivotal roles in shaping the course of history. Gratien's ecological lens reveals how familiar aspects of daily life, such as malaria, cotton cultivation, labor, and leisure, underwent profound transformations, giving rise to modern manifestations.

As the history of Çukurova unfolds, it becomes evident that the remarkable ecological transformation of late Ottoman society laid the groundwork for the contemporary societies of the Middle East. The Unsettled Plain serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of history, environment, and the forces that have shaped our world today. By delving into the lives of ordinary people and their relationship with the land, Gratien offers a fresh perspective on the complex tapestry of the past, shedding light on the roots of our modern world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503631267