Tapu (Ottoman history)
Encyclopedia
In the Ottoman Empire
, tapu was a permanent lease of state-owned arable land
to a peasant family. The family head acquired the usufruct
of the land and was able to transmit
this right to his male descendants upon his death. In return, he pledged to cultivate the land on a continuous basis and to meet a series of fiscal requirements and obligations to fulfill specific services
to the state
or to the sipahi
s.
The term was also used to indicate the title deed that certified tapu rights.
Tapu is considered to be the basis of the Ottoman agrarian system
revolving around family-scale units called çifthane.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, tapu was a permanent lease of state-owned arable land
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
to a peasant family. The family head acquired the usufruct
Usufruct
Usufruct is the legal right to use and derive profit or benefit from property that either belongs to another person or which is under common ownership, as long as the property is not damaged or destroyed...
of the land and was able to transmit
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
this right to his male descendants upon his death. In return, he pledged to cultivate the land on a continuous basis and to meet a series of fiscal requirements and obligations to fulfill specific services
Corvée
Corvée is unfree labour, often unpaid, that is required of people of lower social standing and imposed on them by the state or a superior . The corvée was the earliest and most widespread form of taxation, which can be traced back to the beginning of civilization...
to the state
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
or to the sipahi
Sipahi
Sipahi was the name of several Ottoman cavalry corps...
s.
The term was also used to indicate the title deed that certified tapu rights.
Tapu is considered to be the basis of the Ottoman agrarian system
Agrarian system
An agrarian system is a concept used to describe the dynamic set of economic and technological factors that affect agricultural practices. It is premised on the idea that different systems have developed depending on the natural and social conditions specific to a particular region...
revolving around family-scale units called çifthane.