Reconsidering the Role of Ulema and Scribal Actors in the Ottoman Transition from Manuscript to the Printed Medium

The traditional literature on the Ottoman printing enterprise has for long placed actors of written word including ulema and calligraphers at a counter position to new technology its connotations. printed medium, however, incorporated many these actors, who continued fulfill some most important tasks. From editorial work techno-material aspects printing, did not remain isolated, but garnered opportunities themselves in rapidly changing cultural environment. By focusing exclusively Imperial Press reveal workload largely owned up by ulema, this paper reveals how know-how scholars was critical transition medium. It also illuminates central role played scribes calligraphers, had allegedly ‘revolted’ against İbrahim Müteferrika eighteenth century, providing aesthetic continuity from manuscript book Empire. Overall, argues that necessarily eliminate old professions, allowed professionals adapt carry their skills