Ottoman Market Control explores the economic policies of the Ottoman Empire, focusing on how initial successes in controlling trade routes and implementing taxation systems eventually led to economic stagnation. The book examines the period from the 15th to the 18th centuries, detailing how the Empire's dominance over vital arteries like the Silk Road and Mediterranean Sea lanes, while initially lucrative, created dependencies.
Similarly, the intricate Ottoman taxation system, including customs duties, significantly impacted the distribution of wealth and resources. The book uniquely bridges economic history, political science, and Ottoman studies, offering insights into the interconnectedness of political decisions and economic outcomes. It challenges the notion of isolated economic events by presenting Ottoman economic policies as interconnected systems with long-term consequences.
Progressing through three sections, the book first introduces the Empire's rise, then examines the evolution of economic systems and their effects on sectors like agriculture and trade, and finally explores the consequences of these policies, like the rise of European mercantile powers. Drawing from Ottoman administrative records, trade agreements, and contemporary accounts, the book argues that policies designed to bolster wealth inadvertently stifled innovation and adaptability.
This led to a gradual decline in Ottoman competitiveness and increasing economic dependence on Europe. The book provides valuable lessons for understanding contemporary challenges in economic development and trade policy, demonstrating how dominant powers can decline if they fail to adapt.
