The Attitude towards Usurers and Interest in the Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Bulgaria. The Orthodox Perspective

Hristiyan Atanasov ()
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Hristiyan Atanasov: State University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, Sofia, Bulgaria

Proceedings of the Centre for Economic History Research, 2023, vol. 8, 45-59

Abstract: This article delves into a prevalent question within the realms of economic history and theory: How were usury and interest perceived? It primarily explores the religious and moral viewpoints concerning lending with interest from the vantage point of Orthodox Christianity – the dominant religious denomination in Ottoman Bulgaria. The article provides both direct and indirect evidence of the strong religious aversion to usury during the studied period, an attitude that significantly influenced the mindset of the populace. Furthermore, this research examines indications of evolving perspectives over time. In the nineteenth century, the predominant moral disapproval of usury began to wane, influenced by Western liberalism and rationalism. Nonetheless, it remained the dominant and defining perspective.

Keywords: interest rate; usury; religion; morality; Ottoman Bulgaria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B11 N13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ceh:journl:y:2023:v:8:p:45-59

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