Craft Activity and the Tax System in Ottoman Algeria during the Period of the Deys (1671–1830)

Abstract

During the period of the Deys, the craft sector in Algeria occupied a prominent position in economic life, which made it a focus of interest for the authorities, who sought to regulate it and benefit from its financial revenues. For this purpose, craft communities were subjected to a range of taxes and duties, which varied between periodic taxes and others linked to commercial activity and markets. Certain crafts were also burdened with in-kind obligations, represented by the provision of various products and services to state institutions. These revenues contributed to strengthening the financial resources of the authorities and ensuring the continuity of their administrative and military institutions. However, the multiplicity of fiscal burdens affected artisans to varying degrees. While some crafts managed to maintain their activity and prosperity, others were affected by rising costs, which in turn led to an increase in the prices of certain products. Thus, the fiscal system represented one of the most important mechanisms adopted by the authorities to control craft activity and employ it in the service of their economic interests.