الحرف في عمالة وهران إبان الاحتلال من خلال وثائق أرشيفية

Abstract EN

The study aims to examine the reality of craft activity in Algeria and how it represents the nature of the economic life of Algerians, and the lifestyle of the population.

Algerians relied on the natural possibilities available to establish economic activity in the form of the economic backbone of Ottoman Algeria and a source of livelihood for many families in the city, like in the countryside, which witnessed a radical transformation after the occupation due to the settlers' control over the sources of raw materials and consequently their confiscation of this sector, despite the claims of some that it is a underdeveloped sector.

It was transformed from a professional living sector to a modern industrial sector, especially some activities that were highly popular.

Some even tried to write them down in order to keep them from disappearing, especially since they depended on memorization only and they feared they would disappear .Some were therefore interested in these activities and sought to form professional institutions to teach and preserve them.

The French aim was not to ensure the continuity of this activity, but rather to confiscate a domain that had always been a second source of livelihood for Algerians after agriculture and turn it into a French economic activity, as a result of which Algerian craft activities became in line with the requirements of the French market.