New Consumption Patterns The sultan and other people living in the waterfront palaces were not living isolated lives. They did not withdraw to seclusion. The Sadabad palace was a stage for many royal parties, often lasting several days. The craze for tulips: By 1726, 836 different species of tulips could be found in Istanbul. Lamps of colored glass and mirrors were arranged to display the beauty of the tulips.

Rites and Ceremonies Several major royal weddings were organized over the first quarter of the eighteenth century. First in 1708, and then again in 1709 and 1710, a total of four princesses were married off by the sultan. Theatrical processions: bridal gifts were displayed on dozens of lavishly decorated wooden trays. Meanwhile, many silver trays would display the bridegroom’s gifts to the members of the imperial family including rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and belts.

Circumcision Ceremonies

Why? The sultan himself and his grand vizier İbrahim Pasha, as part of their effort to negotiate power, employed the weapon of consumption to dominate the Istanbul elites. The sultan and the grand vizier tried to lead the Istanbul elites in consumption, establishing themselves at the social center as models for emulation. However, this ruling strategy did not go unchallenged. The consumer culture led to increasing social tensions in the capital city.

Social Tensions in the Capital Leisure activities and associated construction projects provided jobs for the poor and the artisans, but not nearly enough employment, especially because migration into the city was soaring. Wars and dislocation had brought large numbers of immigrants from the Balkans and Anatolia. Immigrants overwhelmed city resources and welfare services, and brought people into a larger web of discontent With the opening of war front with Iran, extraordinary campaign taxes were imposed, and a large share of the burden fell on the peasants and the artisan population.

Patrona Halil

Rebellion On 28 September 1730, Patrona Halil –a soldier of Albanian origin turned petty trader/artisan- and his 25 friends entered the bazaar and started marching. Support from the artisans, shop-keeperse, janissaries, and religious scholars. The rebellion did not last long, the grand vizier was quickly executed, and by the beginning of October, Ahmed III was deposed and replaced by Mahmud I.

Outcomes Mahmud accessed the throne on the condition that he repealed most of the heavy taxes from which people suffered, and paid janissaries a hefty coronation award. Some hundred and twenty kiosks were demolished by the enraged rebels who arrived before the owners and pillaged the site. The rebellion did not discourage pleasure seeking in Istanbul. Sultan Mahmud’s reign marks a golden period in the history of Bosporus.

Provincial Society Some local elites gained political power by becoming the mandated officials of the provincial government, and brought into existence households with large retinues, which operated as political, military and economic enterprises, mobilizing followers and managing subcontractors. Example: Jalili family in Mosul. Mosuli local tradition attributes their ancestry to a merchant, Abdul Jalil, from Diyarbakir.