The Story of the Parici: Fiscal Transformation and Social Reconstruction in Ottoman Cyprus (1572–1672)

The Ottoman conquest (1570–71) changed the social, economic and cultural structure on Cyprus. It created a novel society consisting of Muslims and non-Muslims (zimmis or reaya), and led to a taxation system that reflected the evolution of the central administration’s financial needs. Based on Ottoman financial and judicial sources, this article examines an important element in early Ottoman Cypriot society, namely the parici of the Venetian era, known as barık (or parik, parikoz) during the first century of the Ottoman regime. In doing so, the article seeks to highlight one aspect of the fiscal transformation and reconstruction of society in Ottoman Cyprus.