The Ottoman period in the modern history of Algeria is considered an important and decisive era. Regardless of the duration it spanned, which exceeded three centuries (1516-1830), it is characterized by several factors. At the beginning, Algeria was subjected to Spanish invasion, and by the end, it experienced French occupation (1830). During this period, Algeria lived thru a fierce struggle against the aggressions and provocations of European countries. Additionally, the Ottoman period is regarded as a temporal bridge that preserved Algeria's civilizational values and its Arab-Islamic heritage. Furthermore, it was a period in which the Algerian identity was fully formed, marked by the establishment of a capital, the delineation of territorial borders, the enactment of economic and social laws and regulations, and the pursuit of political relations that aligned the country within the natural unity connecting it to the Arab world and the rest of the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottomans also influenced the social and economic life of Algeria, and the first of this influence was the connection of Algerian society to Eastern society. The Ottomans brought Eastern civilizational means to Algeria, including food, drink, clothing, traditions, and titles.
The book
The Algerians left significant works in history, biographies, and literature during the 15th century, some of which are still references today, such as the works of Al-Tanisi, who was renowned for his studies in hadith, jurisprudence, and literature, and Ibn Al-Qunfudh, who excelled in sciences like arithmetic, astronomy, and the astrolabe, and Al-Thaalibi, who was known for his asceticism and religious sciences.
But the Ottomans lacked essential elements to encourage literature, science, and art in Algeria, the first of which was language. The common language of the state was Turkish, which was more of a spoken language than a written one, and there were no significant literary works produced in this language until then. Undoubtedly, the language of Islamic civilization at that time was Arabic, and therefore, they did not encourage literary writings in Arabic.
Sources indicate that during the Ottoman era in Algeria, there were some engaged in the book-making industry in general, including paper-making, binding, copying, and calligraphy. It was mentioned in the "Publications of Guidance" that the student Muhammad Al-Naqousi was a book dealer in Constantine, and Bey Muhammad Al-Kabir is considered one of the most famous officials who encouraged copying and reproduction.