Defining a framework for the economic history of early-modern Egypt -- Artisan entrepreneurs: capitalist practices in a precapitalist environment -- A period of unprecedented social mobility for nonelites -- The Jalfis: oil pressers and emirs -- Competition between different forms of capitalism...

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- FOREWORD -- PREFACE TO THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- THE PASSIONS AND THE INTERESTS -- INTRODUCTION -- PART ONE. How the Interests were Called Upon to Counteract the Passions -- PART TWO. How Economic Expansion was Expected to Improve the...