The place of Mehmet Genç in Turkish economic history

This study examines the intellectual background, methodological approaches, and original interpretations of the Ottoman economic structure developed by Mehmet Genç, one of the leading figures in Turkish economic historiography. Genç's contributions, particularly his empirical studies based on archival documents that question established judgments about Ottoman finance, the understanding of statism, and economic institutions, have positioned him not only as a historian but also as an economic thinker. In this context, his theses on the "rational" functioning of the state during the Ottoman classical era have had an impact not only within the discipline of history but also on economic theories and development approaches. The study discusses why Mehmet Genç's works constitute a turning point in the writing of Turkish economic history and evaluates his academic legacy.