TABLE OF CONTENTS (page 7) INTRODUCTION (page 9) POLITICAL INITIATIVES 'FROM THE BOTTOM UP' IN THE SIXTEENTH-AND SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY OTTOMAN EMPIRE: SOME EVIDENCE FOR THEIR EXISTENCE (page 27) POLITICAL ACTIVITY AMONG OTTOMAN TAZPAYERS AND THE PROBLEM OF SULTANIC LEGITIMATION (1570-1650) (page 39) SAINTHOOD AS A MEANS OF SELF-DEFENSE IN SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY OTTOMAN ANATOLIA (page 69) TOWN OFFICIALS, TIMAR-HOLDERS, AND TAXATION: THE LATE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY CRISIS AS SEEN FROM CORUM (page 85) POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE ANATOLIAN COUNTRYSIDE AROUND 1600. AN ATTEMPT AT INTERPRETATION (page 113) SEEKING WISDON IN CHINA: AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CELALI REBELLIONS (page 127) BLACK SLAVES AND FREEDMEN CELEBRATING (AYDIN, 1576) (page 151) COUNTERFEITING IN ANKARA (page 161) THE LIFE AND DEATH OF OUTLAWS IN CORUM (page 173) RAUBER, REBELLEN UND OBRIGKEIT IM OSMANISCHEN ANATOLIEN (page 191) ROBBERY ON THE HAJJ ROAD AND POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE (1560-1680) (page 207).