The Role of Women on The Ottoman Economics

Abstract

There is no sifficient Research was conducted on the participation of women on the Ottomon Economic system. Most of the time, women in Ottoman State described from the framework of harem. However, truth is very different. The role of the women is significant in economic activities. The Ottoman women was participated in economic and social issues very actively. In the classical era of Ottoman State, participation of women was weaker than men in the areas of social, economic, and political life. The role of women especially in the area of education is significant. The participation of women in working life is much more than thought. As a dominant economic sector, women heavily participated in agriculture and have bigger role in it. People in Anatolia as general, and women and children as special were spent time in agriculture, animal husbantry. In peace time or war time women lead the economic affairs. Women worked in textile industry, home economics according to archive documents. In the West, first time women worked for somewhere else for a certain wage in the industry era in England. In the beginning of 19th century in West, women started to work in textile and production sectors. Women started to work after Tanzimat in service and production sectors in Ottoman State. Furthermore, there are examples that women in Anatolia engaged in shopping, and opened stores. For example, silk production facilities in Bursa was owned heavily by women. Also, most of the workers were muslim and nonmuslim women. There were also baker women. This study, the role of the women in Ottoman State is studied acccording to the Archives of Ottomon of Prime Ministry.