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The Papyrus Industry in the Early Islamic Era

In: Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient
Author:
W. Matt Malczycki
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Online Publication Date:
01 Jan 2011
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Abstract

The article challenges Karabacek’s and Grohmann’s classic thesis that the Abbāsid state maintained a monopoly over all Egyptian papyrus production. As demonstrated here, there is no evidence for state monopoly. Documents show that the Abbāsids maintained a contract with Egyptian papyrus producers which secured a high price for the producers in return for the best quality papyrus. There is neither evidence nor reason to believe that this contract was forced on the manufacturers by the government. Another free market provided lower quality papyrus at lower prices.

Title:
The Papyrus Industry in the Early Islamic Era
Article Type:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/156852011X586813
Language:
English
Pages:
185–202
Keywords:
state monopoly; early Islamic Egypt; Iraq; free market; papyrus
In:
Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient
In:
Volume 54: Issue 2
Publisher:
Brill
E-ISSN:
1568-5209
Print ISSN:
0022-4995
Subjects:
General, Asian Studies, General, Ancient Near East and Egypt

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