In the recent years I have come across various historical accounts of sieges in the premodem Middle East. My curiosity has often been roused by the economic attempts of the conquerors in trying to exploit the situation. Jean Aubin analyzed in detail the attitude of Timur towards cities he took.2 He shows that Timur generally followed a certain pattem when he forced a city to pay a ransom (nuil-i aman). \lVhen the city was not able to collect it or when the city showed signs of resistance, he ordered a systematic plunder and quite frequently a general massacre.