Land Administration in Iraq From the Muhammadan Period to Present Times; Based on Original Arabic Sources and Official Administration Reports.

Platts, Arnold

Abstract

1. An introductory chapter deals with the general description of Iraq, its area, size, shape, boundaries, surface, and other physical features; rivers, soil, natural history, climate, the people, agriculture, minerals, industries, and manufactures. 2. The first chapter is a brief history of the province. The period of Turkish occupation is described. British influence is traced through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century; the early days of British Military Occupation to the Arab rebellion of 1920; the formation of the Iraq Provisional Government and the election of the Emir in 1921. 3. Some of the questions involved in this work are set out: the natural potentialities of Iraq; the early condition of Iraq: the causes leading to its decay are traced. The present labour shortage; the country could become a world market; religious differences. Arabs are classified: nomad, semi-nomad and settled; the position of Arab women; tribal characteristics; the mode of Ottoman administration; the productivity, with details of crops; antiquities of Iraq; a comparison with Scotland and South Africa; comparison with Oudh. British efforts, and an introduction to one of the main issues - Land Tenure. 4. The question of Land Tenure treated historically, and a description of conditions in pre-Islamic, Islamic, and Ottoman times. The Turkish Land Code explained. Land Laws and Tapu in detail; the judicial aspect of Land Tenure set out. Unreliable accounts of the early systems; incongruity between theory and facts as revealed in a series of incidents set forth here. 5. The Sa'dun as a peculiar agrarian problem; the history of the Sa'dun; the attempt at settlement under the Turks - Midhat Pasha; recent efforts at solution; possible solutions. A further example of failure in the attempt to impose a theoretical system which ignores the normal conditions. 6. Land Revenue; assessment under the Turks; date cultivation; the Government share; apportionment of revenue demand; relations between landlord, tenant, and fellahs; the farming of taxes; subsidies and rebates; land registration. The collection of land revenue from the "farmer" - the division on the threshing floor. The 'Khalasiyah' - The Madhif - tribal customs. System of harvesting; modes of transport. 7. The irrigation of Iraq; early times and the successful system employed; rivers and canalisation; historical survey leading to Turkish times; the British occupation and recent efforts. The present situation. 8. Summary of conclusions through a survey of the last decade.

Citation

Platts, A. Land Administration in Iraq From the Muhammadan Period to Present Times; Based on Original Arabic Sources and Official Administration Reports. (Thesis). SOAS University of London

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 12, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 12, 2020
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.25501/SOAS.00033982
• Award Date: Jan 1, 1927