مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OTTOMAN STATE AND THE SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES (SWEDEN AND DENMARK-NORWAY) IN XVIII CENTURY

Abstract :

Economic life developed by trade was quite important for Ottoman State as it used to be in any of the other countries. Ottoman State was in the middle of some significant trade routes in terms of the geographical territories like Mediterranean and Black Sea around which the state was established. That position of the state caused her commercial relationships grow steadily bigger with neighboring countries and farther ones starting from the years of foundation period. Using the advantages of being in a good position strategically, Ottoman State took place in the territorial commercial life actively and made a good advance before the other countries. Yet, after the geographical discoveries that had given a start in XVI century, there were new trade routes and territories causing the Mediterranean area lose its importance and lessen the Ottoman State’s commercial income in all aspects. Ottoman government tried to reinvigorate the Mediterranean trade by signing commercial contracts with several European countries like France, Austria and England. Those contracts, like a network, reached to the northern European countries like Denmark and Sweden. A commercial contract was signed with Sweden in 1737 and another one with Denmark-Norway in 1756.