Producing, Transporting, and Distributing Charcoal: From the View of the Charcoal Merchants’ Guild in the Eighteenth Century in Istanbul and Its Surrounding Regions

Authors : Kazuma Iwata

Pages : 123-141

Doi:10.53979/yillik.2023.7

View : 157 | Download : 198

Publication Date : 2023-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This article examines the eighteenth-century Ottoman charcoal merchants’ guild and the charcoal distribution system. While previous research has primarily focused on the economic and political aspects of charcoal distribution in the Ottoman Empire, scant attention has been paid to the specific individuals and groups involved. This study analyzes primary sources to address this gap and to examine the activities and socioeconomic structure of the guilds. The research reveals that the charcoal merchants’ guild was divided into subgroups based on location. Each subgroup exhibited distinct characteristics and played a role in the overall functioning of the guild. Notably, the ownership of charcoal warehouses significantly impacted the status and influence of their masters. The distribution system relied on the monopoly of the charcoal merchants. Villagers enjoyed certain privileges at the charcoal production sites, contributing to their involvement in the system. Additionally, other actors, such as brokers, shipping agents, and porters, benefited from the existing framework. Spatial factors played a crucial role in shaping the activities within the charcoal distribution system. The locations and their associated dynamics influenced both legal activities and violations. Consequently, the system became a contested domain in which various groups vied for their personal interests. By analyzing the charcoal merchants’ guild and the distribution system, this study contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of the premodern Ottoman energy trade. The findings shed light on the roles and interactions of actors within the system, highlighting the complexities and challenges of the trade.
Keywords : kömür, tüccar, esnaf, şehir, enerji