This book examines the role of trade fairs and religious festivals in shaping dynamic relations between the Ottoman state and its diverse populace during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II. It analyzes the influence of historical conflicts, provincial power struggles, and public demands on the evolution of public gatherings. Through case studies and examples from diverse provinces that showcase instances where local agents actively participated in decision-making processes, Fairs, Festivals, and State–Society Relations in the Ottoman Empire, 1876–1908 analyzes the influence of historical conflicts, provincial power struggles, and public demands on the evolution of public gatherings in terms of location, content, dates, scope, security, and entertainment. As performative spaces, fairs and festivals facilitated the construction of new national identities and collective consciousness because thousands of people from all walks of life gathered in these meetings and were exposed to state-endorsed and privately produced political messages across the empire. Semih Gökatalay demonstrates that the transformation of collective gatherings took place as a result of ongoing negotiation between political elites.
