Abstract

Abstract
During the domination of Ottomans (1516-1918), Mosul was overfull with waves of high prices, aridity and famine throughout various periods of time, which resulted in death of great number of its populations. Although Mosul is characterized with the most fertile agricultural soil supported by the Tigris which is the main source of water to the lands, but the flooding, restriction of water and the freezing of this river water could destroy vast agricultural lands, which in turn leads to the scarcity of agricultural products Mosul was famous with in addition to the waves of high prices in 1878 which were known by Mosul people as the "year of Lire" or "Barsameyya year" (Barseemah), which means in Kurdish (hungry) as this year was considered as one of the most cruel wave of famines and high prices the city witnessed that the price of wheat was one gold lire and this eventually brought a ruthless wave of high prices (famine) that led to the death of great number of people in Mosul and other governorates.