THE ROSETTA SOCIETY IN THE OTTOMAN ERA, AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF SOCIAL CLASSES, COMMUNITIES, AND CULTURAL INTERACTION

Sažetak

Rosetta stands out as one of Egypt's most important and ancient ports, having played a pivotal role throughout history. It boasts a unique cultural, architectural, and social heritage that reflects the succession of civilizations and nations on Egyptian soil. The city has garnered the appreciation of researchers and scholars due to its unique strategic location at the mouth of the Rosetta branch of the Nile River and on the Mediterranean coast, making it a significant commercial and military center.

Rosetta has witnessed major transformations since its early days as a defensive military outpost during the Abbasid era, through its commercial and urban flourishing in subsequent Islamic periods, culminating in its golden age during the Ottoman era when it served as the closest port to the capital of the Caliphate. This strategic importance and thriving economic activity were reflected in its social and demographic composition, attracting successive waves of immigrants and Arab and foreign communities. These diverse groups and classes formed a unique model of cultural pluralism and social harmony. Therefore, studying the social conditions and social classes in Rosetta during the Ottoman era is of paramount importance. It sheds light on the details of daily life, the network of relationships between the ruling elite and the general population and resident communities, and reveals the mechanisms of social and professional organization that regulated the rhythm of life in this vital port city.