Some Evaluations on the XIXth Century Ottoman Manufacturing

In Ottoman economic history research, the central discussion of the XIXth century is observed to revolve around the decline of the Ottoman economy. According to this view, Western European countries that experienced the Industrial Revolution and transitioned to mechanized mass production gradually gained a competitive advantage through the Balta Limani Treaty signed in 1838, leading to the collapse of Ottoman craft production. In other words, the decline of craft production has been evaluated as indicative of a broader economic decline. In this study, non-agricultural production activities, specifically manufacturing activities, within the Ottoman economy of the XIXth century are examined in relation to the central discussion in the literature regarding the Ottoman economy of the XIXth century. Changes in manufacturing activities have been attempted to be evaluated from a macro perspective through selected examples. After the Balta Limani Treaty, many craft activities resisted collapse by lowering production costs, while the demand for traditional goods suited to local tastes persisted. Factors such as high transportation costs due to weak infrastructure and the inability of machines to produce certain goods helped crafts maintain their production. This study is a review-based work, employing a method of examining relevant sources and evaluating the obtained information.