ПОЛОЖАЈ ЦИГАНА У ОСМАНСКОМ ЦАРСТВУ (1451-1807)
STATUS OF THE GYPSIES IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE (1451-1807)

Summary/Abstract: Ottoman Empire based on Sharia law had divided population into two main categories, muslims and unfaithfuls. Despite that, Gypsies had their own, specific dual status in the overall social and administrative organisation. Gypsies were differentiated according to the ethnic principle - something quite unusual for a muslim state, with no sharp distinction between muslim and christian Gypsies, for tax and social status purposes, with the exception of some minor privileges for muslim Gypsies. Those who worked for the turkish army were more privileged. Gypsies had not been able to accept neither Ottoman muslim nor European christian culture - they rather preserved a number of ethnocultural characteristics such as nomadic lifestyle and some traditional occupations.

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