КУЛТУРА ПИРИНЧА, ЕКОНОМИЈА И ЖИВОТНА СРЕДИНА У НИШКОЈ КОТЛИНИ У XV И XVI ВЕКУ
RICE CULTURE, ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE NIŠ VALLEY IN THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: The Ottoman conquest brought major changes to agricultural practices in newly acquired territories. Rice, previously either absent or minimally cultivated in most parts of the Balkans, emerged as one of the most important agricultural crops during the Ottoman period. Drawing on Ottoman archival sources this research traces the establishment and the development of risiculture as a key agricultural practice in the Niš Basin from the end of 14th century to the late 16th century. The study highlights reforms implemented by the Ottoman state in the 1520s and 1530s in rice production in the Sanjaks of Smederevo and Kruševac, emphasizing their crucial role in increasing agricultural production in the Niš region during the second half of the 16th century. These measures were closely tied to military supply needs during campaigns, while also supporting the administration and population in newly conquered territories across the Balkans and Central Europe. Waqfs also played a very important role in rice production within the Niš region. These charitable institutions expanded rice fields during the 16th century, took control of water resources and labor, and thus reshaped the economic and social dynamics of the Niš area. This paper also explores the environmental impact of rice cultivation in the Niš Valley. It argues that the construction of dams, canals, and irrigation systems, along with deforestation and the reclamation of wastelands, not only altered the courses of rivers such as the Nišava and South Morava but also significantly affected the populations of surrounding villages and the city of Niš. Particular emphasis is placed on the climatic changes during the “Little Ice Age”, which played a complex role in the region’s rice cultivation. On the one hand, increased rainfall and humidity created favorable conditions for rice cultivation, supporting state-led reforms and expanding paddy fields. On the other hand, the period also brought extreme weather events, such as harsh winters and frequent flooding which damaged the infrastructure necessary for cultivation. Of particular interest is a government order from 1572 which highlights the severity of these issues, documenting the destruction of dams by harsh winters and spring floods in the Niš region, which disrupted agricultural activities and caused financial losses to the state. This decree underlines the state’s awareness of the fragility of rice cultivation infrastructure in the face of extreme weather conditions. It also underlines the essential role of local communities-particularly the Bendeciyan – who were responsible for the construction, maintenance, and repair of dams, and who played a vital role in the Ottoman authorities’ efforts to mitigate these challenges.

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