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Outline for the Article/Chapter

Title of Article/Chapter: Mehmet Genç – Ottoman Industry in the Eighteenth Century (1994)
I. Introduction
A. Brief overview: In the 18th century, the beginning of the industrialization of the Ottoman
Empire and the changes in the industry compared to the previous centuries.
B. Importance of understanding the subject matter: The general components and
characteristics of the Ottoman Industry in the 18th Century, its differences or similarities
from the previous century’s industry components, main trends and state policies, trade
with Europe; imports and exports.
C. Purpose of the article/chapter: To analyze the state policies made to develop trade in the
18th century and the processes and places of manufacturing, fabrication, income
generation as a result of industrialization caused by these policies and statements.
II. Background Information
A. Contextual information: Ottoman industry was neither totally stagnant nor did it in a
linear, uniform fashion over the course of the century.
B. Key terms or concepts: Trade, Industrialization, Manufacturing, Provisionism, Traditionalism,
Fiscalism, West, Production, Malikane System, State Investmens, Woolen Cloth Manufacture,
Silk Manufacture, Artisans, Navy, Ottoman Artisanal Organizations, Tax, Miri Mübaya Regime,
Grand Vezir
C. Historical framework:
III. Main Points or Arguments
A. Point 1: Components of Economic Change
i. During this period, the revival and increase of trade, especially the capitulations of
trade with Europe as a result of the wars and the discovery of new Sundays have
created important driving forces for the transformation of the economy.
ii. Another was the increase of local production, and with it the development of industry.
In particular, developments in the textile (silk, woolen) and raw material sectors have
increased the growth and industrialization potential of the Ottoman economy and
caused structural changes.

B. Point 2: The Process of Industrialization and Structural Change:

i. The industrialization process in the Ottoman Empire has progressed under the
influence of many kinds of dynamics. Factors such as foreign technology transfers,
capital accumulation, tax collection and its contribution to the economy, the
transformation of the labor market were the most important drivers of this process.
ii… Industrialization, fabrication, in short, the process of industrialization has also caused
significant changes in the structure of Ottoman society. The migration of peasants to the city,
the emergence of new industrial classes -for example, silk is often preferred by people with
high incomes- are examples of these.
C. Point 3: State Interventions and Policies
i. The state has pursued various policies to encourage industrialization. The incentives
and capitulations provided to foreign investors, support for domestic producers and
investments in non-agricultural sectors are examples of these policies.
ii. In addition, the efforts of the state to regulate and control economic activities
are also very important. Tax policies -miri mubayaa can be given as an
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example-, trade policy regulations and attempts to improve industrial

standards reflect examples of state intervention in the economic structure.
IV. Case Studies or Examples
A. Case Study 1: Change in Textile Sector
i. As an example of the case study that Mehmet Genç deals with, the change in the
textile sector in the eighteenth century can be given. For example, the emphasis on the
evolution and development of the Silk Factory and weaving workshop located in
Istanbul are case studies of structural changes in the textile sector; Woolen Cloth
Manufacture (1703) and Sail Cloth Manufacture (1709), Silk Manufacture (1720) are
the examples for the new textile era.
ii. Factors such as textile production processes of the period, technologies used, labor
structure and Sunday dynamics can be examined. In addition, external influences and
internal dynamics in the textile industry of the period can also be analyzed.
B. Case Study 2: Changes in the Tax Collection System or the Stability:
i. In this example, issues such as management and application changes in the tax
collection process, the establishment of new institutions related to tax collection, and
the reorganization of relations with taxpayers can be examined. In addition, the effects
of tax policies on the economic structure and social structure can be emphasized.
ii. For example, Ottoman artisanal organizations are in vogue during this period. Ottoman
artisanal organizations had possessed considerable autonomy- they had elected their
own administrators and paid their salaries. They accepted the military into
administrative positions in their organizations, believing that they would benefit from
the privileges of the former.
iii. As a result of the changes in the tax collection system, it is also important how tax
revenues are distributed. We can say that there have been changes in the distribution of
tax revenues in the eighteenth century. These changes may reflect how tax revenues
are Decoupled between the central government and local governments, as well as the
economic and political implications of the tax collection system. In this context, the
distribution and use of tax revenues are important for understanding how they affect
the administrative structure and economic balance of the Ottoman Empire.
C. Case Study 3: Classical Ottoman Systems: There are three classical Ottoman System.
One of the principles that provisionism, that is, the maintenance of a steady supply so that all
goods and services were cheap, plentiful, and of a good quality. Provisionism sought to keep
the supply of goods and services to the internal market an optimal level.
The second principle that ruled Ottoman economic policy was traditionalism. Traditionalism
found its expression in the time-honored motto that one should not work against what comes
from the olden time: kadimden olagelene aykırı iş yapılmaması
The third principle was Fiscalism. Fiscalism was guiding Ottoman economic policy decisions
and can be summarized as the maximization of treasury income and the effort to prevent it
from falling below already-attained levels.
V. Counterarguments or Alternative Perspectives (optional)
A. Counterargument 1:
i. Since history has a flexible structure as an interpretation, it is fair to say that there may
be different perspectives or alternative ideas related to the Ottoman industrialization
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process in the eighteenth century. For example, when asked to comment, it can also be
argued that the Ottoman Empire did not experience an industrial transformation in the
eighteenth century, emphasizing its structural and internal contradictions by giving the
example of the Ottoman's inability to fully capture the developments in the West,
acting with different policies from the West in exports and imports. It would be correct
to give this example as a counterargument.
ii. It would be correct to say that the Ottoman economy has a backward structure in
general, despite the developments in some sectors. It can also be suggested that the
economy is under the influence of restrictions on foreign trade and domestic political
instability, and therefore an industrial revolution has not taken place in a real sense.
VI. Conclusion
A. Summary of main points:

 Dynamics of Economic Change: Factors such as the revival of trade, the increase of
local production and the development of industry, the 18th century of the Ottoman
economy. it has formed the dynamics of the transformation that it has experienced in
the century.
 The Process of Industrialization and Structural Change: It also caused significant
changes in the structure of Ottoman society, such as the migration of peasants to cities
and the emergence of new industrial classes.
 State Intervention and Economic Policies: The Ottoman empire pursued various
policies to promote the industrialization process. Incentives for foreign investors,
support for domestic industrialists and investments in non-agricultural sectors are
examples of these policies. The state's efforts to regulate and control economic
activities are also important, examples such as tax policies and trade regulations can
also be given.

B. Final thoughts: In this article, the industrial and productive changes experienced by the
Ottoman Empire in the eighteenth century are examined in depth, and the economic
dynamics of the period are explained. In this way, it has been provided to have an idea
about the industrialization process of the Ottoman Empire and the changes in the
economic structure. This article will be an important resource for those who are curious
about the Westernization, Industrialization and development process of Ottoman history.
 C. Suggestions for further research:
"An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire, 1300-1914" by Halil İnalcık and
Donald Quataert
"State and Peasant in the Ottoman Empire: Agrarian Power Relations and Regional Economic
Development in Ottoman Anatolia During the Sixteenth Century" by Suraiya Faroqhi
VII. Reflection Questions
1. Considering the differences between tax collection styles in the eighteenth century and the
method of tax collection now, what comments can be made about the social inequalities of tax
policies for both periods?
2. How can the structural changes and economic transformations in the industrialization process of
the Ottoman Empire be related to today's economic development and sustainability efforts? What
lessons can be learned from past experiences and how can these lessons affect today's
development strategies?

Late Industrialization: The Ottoman Empire's industrialization efforts were relatively late compared
to Western Europe. This lag contributed to economic challenges and a reliance on agriculture and
traditional industries.
Infrastructure Development: Efforts to modernize included building railways, improving ports, and
developing telegraph systems. These infrastructure improvements were crucial for economic
development but were often financed through foreign loans, leading to debt dependency.