This presentation will discuss how contemporary (mis)conceptions of finance, money and economics influence historical readings of Ottoman revolts. It will focus on the general understanding of inflation in Ottoman scholarship, and revisit some of the assumptions related to debasement (tağşiş) and inflation. Academics tend to establish a clear connection between the two monetary events. Many link social turmoil to these as well, such that debasement is often associated with upheavals. But is there a correlation or causality between these phenomena? This direct link between debasement and societal instability will be called into question to carve out space for alternative explanations of revolts and monetary events. The presentation will adopt a broad temporal scope, discussing events at a macro-level between the late 16th and 18th centuries.