Introduction of Rice Culture in the Central Balkans (15th and 16th Century)

Amedoski, Dragana (2017) Introduction of Rice Culture in the Central Balkans (15th and 16th Century). In: State and Society in the Balkans before and after Establishment of Ottoman Rule. Zbornici radova (35). Istorijski institut, Beograd, pp. 235-256. ISBN 978-86-7743-125-9

Text Introduction_of_Rice_Culture_in_the_Cent.pdf Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (129kB)

Abstract

The growing of rice followed the route of the Ottoman Empire’s expansion towards Rumelia. Soon after the conquest, the first rice fields appeared in the river valleys all over the Central Balkans. The most fertile soil along the Velika (Great) Morava, Južna (South) Morava, Nišava, Rasina and Toplica rivers was used for cultivating this “precious grain”. Peasants employed in the rice fields enjoyed certain privileges; they had the status of çeltükcis. During the 16th century rice growing flourished especially in the region of Niš, in the nâhiye of Petruš, district of Paraćin, as well as the Peć nâhiye and the region of Banat. Significant quantities of rice were also produced in the Alaca Hisar nâhiye, while smaller amounts were registered in several villages in the Rasina valley and in the nâhiye of Bovan. Rice fields belonged to hâss of the sultans, members of the sultan’s family and high officials, and they were under direct control of the central treasury. The administration governed rice fields by the mukâta‘ system. Most of the mulk land assigned to rice growing was converted to vaqf

Actions (login required)

View Item