An Example Begging Overseas: Maronite Beggars

This study focuses on the migration of the Maronitex Beggars, living in Ottoman Empire’s Lebanon and Syria, to Europe and America for political, social and economic reasons in the end of the 19th century to early 20th century. A large part of the Maronits people has migrated to the industrialized cities of the west, especially in the last quarter of the 19th century, in order to beg. The Maronite beggars further strengthened the already existing negative image of the Ottoman Empire in the Christian world, and caused diplomatic conflict between the Ottoman Empire and Western states. The Ottoman government took many measures to prevent the migration, but was not successful.