The economic transformation in the Levant under the comprehensive presence of the economy, trade and taxes (489-690 AH)

Abstract

The Levant is considered one of the most historically significant regions due to its distinctive geographic position, which made it a link between East and West and a center for trade and cultural exchange between continents and peoples. This location made it a stage for political, economic, and military interactions throughout the ages, giving it special importance in historical studies. In light of this importance, studying the tax and financial systems applied by the Crusaders in the Levant emerges as one of the main approaches to understanding the nature of Crusader administration and its methods of organizing state affairs and managing resources. Tax policy was not merely a means of securing revenue; it also reflected the orientations of the ruling authority and its relationship with the local population, and revealed the nature of the economic and social structure that prevailed during the Crusader presence.This study seeks to examine the tax system adopted by the Crusaders in the Levant by identifying the types of taxes and the areas in which they were imposed, as well as clarifying their economic and social effects.