Artisans (pre-1500) - Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE
[Article]
Shatzmiller, Maya
Leiden
Brill
(3,287 words)
The term artisan in this entry refers to a skilled craftsman or craftswoman who exercised a specialised manufacturing technique, as opposed to the unskilled labourer, in mediaeval Islamic societies. As a specialised group within the labour force, artisans were responsible for building and manufacturing items for everyday use as well as luxury items destined for local consumption or export. Understanding the organisation of the manufacturing sector and measuring its performance, providing data about the patterns of manufacturing, division of labour and specialisation, as well as the social organisation of artisanal