Markets and crafts in Andalusian and Moroccan cities through the books of Hisbah and commercial documents.

Abstract

This research explores markets and crafts in Andalusian and Moroccan cities through the books of the Hisbah (market supervision) and commercial documents, which are rich sources revealing the nature of economic and social life in the Islamic West. Markets were the beating heart of the city, where goods and cultures converged and social relations were formed. Crafts formed the backbone of industrial production and contributed to shaping a unique cultural identity. The Hisbah institution played a comprehensive supervisory role, ensuring a balance between the interests of merchants, artisans, and consumers. Commercial documents, meanwhile, served as living witnesses to the nature of economic and financial transactions. Through this interaction between markets, crafts, and the Hisbah, Islamic civilization in Andalusia and Morocco was able to achieve a balance between religious values and practical organization, establishing an integrated economic system that left its mark on the pages of history.