Sarraf Executions in the 18th Century: Were They the Victims of “Harming Goverment Property” or “Factionalism”?

Abstract

This article is about certain sarrafs who were executed in the 18th century. The main question I examine is whether these sarraf executions were caused by a concern to prevent “harm to the goverment property” or by “factionalism” considering the circumstances of the period. The reason for focusing on 18th century is twofold: 1) The struggle between centeral and peripheral elite to seize the economic surplus was intense at that period. 2) This century was the “golden age” for the sarrafs.