Ottoman centralization and modernization in the province of Baghdad, 1831-1872

Abstract

The present study aims to explore Ottoman centralization and modernization in theprovince of Baghdad, between 1831 and 1872. The study, which was based upon a variety ofsources, and primarily upon the Ottoman and British archives, is an attempt to administrative and political history of Ottoman Iraq.The study is divided into six chapters. After an assessment of the literature andapproaches on studying the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire, chapter one contains ageneral introduction on the geography, the people, and history of the Ottoman Iraq. The consequences of Iraq̕s geography on agriculture, Iraq̕s peripheral position on the Persianborder and its implications for provincial politics are underlined. In chapter two, the declineand fall of decentralist structures such as the Mamluks in Baghdad, the Jalilis in Mosul andthe Kurdish emirates in northern Iraq are explained. Parallel to the disintegration of the autonomous entities, the growing presence of Ottoman state (centralization) is emphasized.Chapter three attempts to explain changes in the borders among the Iraqi provinces andBaghdad̕s position as the provincial center. Then, the fluctuations in the authority of theprovincial governor are analyzed in relation to the centralist and de-centralist forces. As opposed to the common tendency in Iraqi historiography which distinguished Midhat Pashafrom the rest of the governors, this study brought Resid Pasha and Namık Pasha to theforefront as the harbinger of Midhat Pasha̕s reforms. The increasing Ottoman state controland the improvements in the general security of the province were also mentioned here. Chapters four and five seek to consider the extent to which the Tanzimat reforms werecarried out in the Ottoman Iraq. Special importance is given to the establishment of provincialadministrative councils and the implementation of two significant laws, namely the ProvincialLaw of 1864 and Ottoman Land Code of 1858 in the region. The Vilâyet Law extended the provincial administrative mechanism at the expense of tribal dominions. Through severaloffices (such as the office of kaymakam/mültezim and membership in the provincial councils)the tribal sheikhs were incorporated into the provincial administration. Having analyzedOttoman politics of tribe, chapter five focuses on the implementation of Land Code of 1858, which targeted the tribal structure that dominated the province for centuries. Although thecode aimed individual registration of the land, the tribal sheiks and city merchants emerged asbig landowners. However, despite this side effect, there appeared significant changes in thelandholding patterns and agricultural production. Finally, chapter six analyzed the modernization of various aspects of life in Baghdad. Specialemphasis was given to the introduction of steam navigation, telegraph communication,modern schools, print houses and publication of provincial newspaper. There is no doubt thatthese public works played crucial role in incorporating Iraq not only to the imperial center but also to the international networks. In this regard, the Tanzimat centralization andmodernization went hand in hand in Ottoman Baghdad. Therefore, one of the main points ofthis dissertation is to explore Ottoman origins of modern Iraq.