The Ottomans and longdistance trade in the early modern world

Abstract

Trade was the key sector in the European expansion at the beginning of the early modern times. While the role of the Europeans overestimated on this transcontinental long distance trade it can be said that the role of the Ottomans is underestimated. Moreover their role was neglected until present times2. However, except American continent the Ottomans were also very important actors in transcontinental long distance trade from the Atlantic throughout Mediterranean until the Indian Ocean. The Ottomans also played a significant role in rising trading activities of European Atlantic nations from the Atlantic until the Indian Ocean. As a result of major transformations in international trading routes it is often considered that the earlier dynamism disappeared in the Ottoman region and the Empire had lost its former importance in the long distance trade. Both direct access of European merchants to Asian merchandise and the development of Atlantic routes are cited as major factors in the decline of the Ottoman’s former significance.