Representations of Economic Life in Ottoman Algeria in Travel Accounts: Markets as a Case Study

Abstract

Travel literature on Algeria during the Ottoman period constitutes a significant source for documenting and preserving the country's cultural and historical heritage. These travel accounts provide valuable information on various aspects of social life in different communities. Among these, economic life occupies a prominent place, particularly through travelers' descriptions of markets, which represented one of the most important manifestations of economic activity in Ottoman Algeria. Hardly any travel account is devoid of references to the numerous markets spread across cities and villages, as well as the diverse goods traded within them. These markets served not only as centers of commercial exchange but also as spaces of cultural interaction, functioning as meeting points where foreign travelers and local inhabitants came into contact.This study seeks to examine the role of travel literature in documenting economic life and introducing the markets of Algeria during the Ottoman period.