The Social and Political History of the Ottoman Empire - Essay Example

Middle-East History The social and political history of the Ottoman Empire has been interesting area of research in various studies and it is essential to realize the several elements which influence the economy of the empire. Analyzing the factors that contributed to the decline of the Ottoman Empire, one realizes that the economy of this great Empire was largely dependent on gold and precious metals, the acute shortage of which influenced the weakening of the economy as well. One of the major impacts on the growth of the economy of the Ottoman Empire was the discovery and exploitation of the New World (America) by the European states, which damaged the economy as a result of inflation, caused by the inflow of gold, silver, and other precious metals. The great disruption of the Ottoman economy was caused by the inflation due to the inflow of gold, silver, and other precious metals from the New World. "The Ottomans experienced the impact of the increased flow of precious metal before the 17th century. The flow of American silver probably began to affect the Ottoman economy by 1580. While the first effects of the New World silver were experienced in Ottoman Anatolia by 1580, the most significant response of Ottoman prices occurred between 1585 and 1606." (Bulut, 65) Therefore, the effect of gold and precious metals on the economy as well as social life of the Ottoman Empire is important to recognize and this paper makes a reflective analysis of the impact of precious metals on the Ottoman Empire. In a profound exploration of the impact of precious metals on the Ottoman Empire, it becomes lucid that the Empire was self-sufficient with regard to the availability of various precious metals. The political supremacy over the neighboring nations offered an important opportunity to the Ottomans to import metals which were not available in the Empire. Thus, it may be noted that grain and other foodstuffs, iron, copper or cloth for everyday use were manufactured in sufficient quantities with the territories of the Empire. The Ottomans were largely autocratic in terms of war materials and the other precious metals were imported into the Empire. The Ottoman political elite and the better-off townsmen consumed Indian spices and Yemini coffee. "All these Indian and Yemini imports led to a significant outflow of silver and gold, but precious metals were mined on Ottoman territory only in very moderate quantities. Although by the middle of the sixteenth century, most of Hungary was in the hands of the sultans, the mines that had supplied raw materials for the country's famous fifteenth century gold- and silversmiths remained outside Ottoman control and, moreover, were less productive than they had once been." (Faroqhi, 14) Therefore, the impact of precious metals on the Ottoman Empire is unquestionable and the introduction of gold and precious metals to the Ottoman Empire had a vital influence on their economy as well as social life. It is important to realize that the introduction of gold and precious metals had a vital impact on the Ottoman economy. Significantly, the introduction of various precious metals played a major influence on the European economy. Similarly, gold and precious metals played a major impact on the various aspects of the economy and these metals contributed to the increase in prices in the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the sixteenth century. "The great change in the European economy wrought by all this precious metal also had its effects on the Ottoman Empire. Since European merchants traded in Ottoman territories, some silver from the New World found its way to the Ottoman lands. The Ottoman rulers encouraged the import of these coins. The Ottomans could not find a way to use these coins as investments in their economy. They tried to keep this money within the country. As an important factor the import supplies of silver contributed to the inflation." (Bulut, 65) Thus, a reflective analysis of the various aspects of the Ottoman economy confirms that the impact of gold and precious metals on the development of the economy was essential. The fluctuations in the economy, the inflation in the Empire, the development of the economy etc were influenced by the inflow and outflow of gold and precious metals in the Ottoman Empire. It is also essential to realize that the continued outflow of precious metals in the Empire could not be sustained for long. "The continued outflow of precious metals, first of silver and then of gold, then again silver, and once more gold, could not be sustained after the middle of the fifteenth century due to the emerging shortage of spice. When the Ottomans took control of the silver mines in Bosnia and Serbia in the 1450s and 1460s, even Venice was afflicted by the bullion famine." (Pamuk, 44) Therefore, it is important to recognize that the introduction of gold and precious metals played a major role in the growth of the economy as well as social life in the Ottoman Empire. A profound analysis of the history of the Ottoman Empire, with regard to the use of gold and precious metals suggests that the Ottomans were the pinnacle of the Anatolian jewelry tradition and all kinds of precious mines, stones and embellishing techniques were tried in Anatolia until the Ottoman period. In other words, the Ottomans inherited an extremely rich tradition of jewelry which was formulated by invasions that had lasted for thousands of years and migrations. Significantly, the Ottomans were effective in taking the art of jewelry to the apex and the introduction of gold and precious metals had a major impact on this social development of the Ottomans. "As the power of the Ottoman Empire heightened, the significance of the goldsmith craft also increased. With the historical and cultural wealth it had inherited, the Ottoman goldsmith craft absorbed the backdrops of the extensive geography of the Empire. Outside of the capital city of Istanbul in places like Trabzon, Samsun, Sivas, Van, Erzurum, Erzincan, Gmshane, Bitlis, Kula, Eskisehir, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Midyat, Sam, Halep, Kibris and Prizren, precious mines were processed with different techniques." (The Anatolian Journey of Jewelry from Tombs to Palaces) Therefore, the introduction of gold and precious metals changed the social life in the Ottoman Empire and there was a significant growth in the professions connected with gold and precious metals. The importance of gold and precious metals was evident in the social life of the Ottoman Empire. In other words, a reflective exploration of the socio-political history of the Ottoman Empire beginning from its founding to the reformation efforts of Selim III indicates the great role played by gold and precious metals in the social life of the people as well as the economy. The important role of gold and precious metals in the Ottoman economy becomes palpable in a clear understanding of the various factors that contributed to the economical problems in the Empire. Significantly, these economical problems in the Ottoman economy are best suggested by the coins with the decreasing amounts of gold and silver ratios, inflation. Similarly, the price increases of the late sixteenth century in the Ottoman Empire were chiefly caused by the influx of precious metals into Europe from the Americas. The impact of gold and precious metals on the Ottoman economy society is also suggested by the role of the government in the distribution of precious metals. "The government of the Ottoman sultans controlled the distribution of precious metals by testing the purity of the gold and silver used to fashion precious objects and strike coins. An official stamp (sah) guaranteeing the purity, usually 90% for silver, accompanied by the monogram signature (tughra) of the reigning sultan was stamped on all precious metalwork. The marking was done by a special assay office in the Ottoman mint." (Krkman) Therefore, it is essential to realize that gold and precious metals had a major role in the Ottoman economy and social life. In conclusion, the effect of gold and precious metals on the economy as well as social life of the Ottoman Empire is unquestionable. Works Cited Bulut, Mehmet. Ottoman-Dutch economic relations in the early modern period 1571-1699. Uitgeverij Verloren. 2001. P 65. Faroqhi, Suraiya. The Ottoman Empire and the world around it. I.B.Tauris. 2006. P 14. Krkman, Garo. "Review of Garo Krkman. Ottoman Silver Marks, Istanbul: Mathusalem Publications, 1996, in Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies, vol. 12 (2001,2002, pub. 2003), pp. 86-88." Feb 19. 2010. . Pamuk, evket. A monetary history of the Ottoman Empire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2000. P 44. "The Anatolian Journey of Jewelry from Tombs to Palaces." Anatolian Stones. 2005. Feb 19. 2010. . Read More