Week 3 Reflection- Michael Garcia
City
states around the Mediterranean region began to rise in the 14th
century and began to become very important in their influence on international
trade routes, spice routes, etc. In the 15th century, these trade routes began
to develop and be utilized on a greater scale. Following the crusades, especially
during the 16th century, Europe became more powerful. Following the collapse of Constantinople, the
expansion of the Ottoman Empire actually allowed for doing “away with numerous borders and resulted
in one homogeneous trading zone in which only one set of import export customs
was due (Fleet).” However, the Ottoman Empire emerged into a trade center for
the east as it happened thanks to the accumulation of marriages and religious
conversions. Constantinople was filled with Jesuits and with the rise of demand
of Western Europeans; the Catholic pope turned the other cheek against
Christians converting to Islam for business or personal purposes. Meanwhile, in
the west, Genoa and Venice (although small city-states) served as great mediators
of the east and west. Therefore, stimulating the “economic development of the early Ottoman state and, indeed, to Ottoman
territorial expansion” demonstrating economic aspirations and eventual
integration into the economy of the Mediterranean basin for the Ottomans
(Fleet).
For the interactions between
Genoa and Venice with Istanbul, money largely formed the basis of the relationship,
rather than any religious dispute. Once Constantinople had fallen, what “the
Genoese really wanted was... to ensure freedom of movement and, in particular,
access to and from the Black Sea (Fleet).” Both Genoese and the Turkish
Ruler, Mehmed, had high interests in keeping relations between each other
running smoothly. The Genoese merchant was an integral part of the
embryonic Ottoman economy, not merely as an outside factor coming, taking and
leaving, but as one of the functionaries of the state, for Genoese and other
Latin merchants operated as tax farmers for the Ottomans in the 15th
century. Venetian merchants could even trade safely within Ottoman lands, with
the freedom of movement and security of persons and goods
Yet, the early Ottoman state
was not distinctly eastern or western, or viewed in the light of a western
Christendom Muslim Turkish conflict, but to be understood as an integral part
of the Mediterranean economy (Fleet). Although, it may seem as “the Turks”
were one of the infamous Christian enemies, they were actually a huge part of their
trading bloc, especially where Genoese flocked to.
In spite of their many wars
between the Venetians and Ottomans, the
two enjoyed long periods of peace and friendly relations on commercial and
political levels (Carboni). Venice was Istanbul's best customer
since they wanted to discourage trade with English, Dutch and French and
continue their own activities in the Orient. Even, the Sultan’s income
consisted of taxes on non-Muslim subjects that yielded ever-greater revenue as
lands grew (Carboni). In 1481 non-Muslims and
non-tributaries paid 4 per cent on imported goods and on merchandise
transferred from one ship to another, tributaries paid 2 per cent and Muslims
paid 1 per cent (Fleet). This made it economically advantageous for a
merchant to be Muslim to avoid taxes and gain certain business privileges once
in the land of the Ottomans, and so the Christian converted to Islam.
It became easy for men to
convert to Islam, while not all Christian women who arrived in Istanbul during
the same years actually changed their religion. Muslim could marry a Christian
women and it was easier for women to maintain their religion if they choose to
live in Istanbul (Pedani). Males reached Ottoman lands as prisoners or at own
will but had to become Muslims if they wanted their freedom or make a career. Yet,
in the late-16th century, Christian women went to Istanbul to join their
relatives who gained important positions in the Imperial administration. Muslim
women in Ottoman lands had much more political power than Christian woman, thus
becoming advantageous for Venetian women to convert to Islam upon arriving to Istanbul
(Pedani). Finally, marriages served to cement alliances. Some free-born persons
began to obtain high political positions using the help of harem women. Rich or
important heiress women were the means to reach the goal of gaining wealth and power
(Pedani). And so, “the East” and “the
West” were much more connected (via trade) and influencing then one may have perceived.
On my visit to Venice this past weekend, I noticed how some of the architecture
prominent on palaces and even on Saint Mark’s Basilica (which contains four
horses originally from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul) contains many Islamic and
Ottoman traits as traces of these relationships.
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