A City on the Move
Non-Salonicans in Thessaloniki and Salonicans Abroad in the 18th Century According to the Οttoman Probate Inventories
Abstract
The paper aspires to contribute to the issue of mobility within the Ottoman Empire. The research is based on an analysis of the Ottoman probate inventories of Thessaloniki, the most important port in the Ottoman Balkans in the 18th century. From a total of 4,000 probate inventories, the research focuses on a sample of more than 600 cases of both Salonicans who died away from their home town and of non Salonicans who died in Thessaloniki during almost the whole of the 18th century (1696–1770). The analysis reveals that the deceased can be classified into three categories: military men, merchants, and pilgrims. Special reference is made to women who moved around and to the places of death of foreigners in the city. These three categories suggest that the main reasons for ordinary people to voluntarily move within the Ottoman Empire were trade, pilgrimage, and membership in the army. Few cases where people travelled for personal reasons are recorded.
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