Socio-Economic Analysis of Cash Waqfs at Ottoman Macedonia Under the Light of Waqfiyyas (1506-1912)

The aim of this study is to carry out a socio-economic analysis of cash waqfs by using the registers of waqfs (establishment contracts of cash waqfs), which were active in Macedonia during the Ottoman period. 83 cash waqfs were established between 1506 and 1912. In line with the data obtained from registers of waqfs, the demographical characteristics of the founders and their capital amounts, rates of profit shares and returns have been analyzed in relation to the wages. As a result of these analyzes, it has been found out that the returns obtained from cash waqfs were transferred to the investment and expenditure on a large scale and excess money was given as wages. It has been discovered that only half of the wages were allocated to the members of the family as wages and that cash waqfs operated in accordance with the purpose of their establishment.