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Beratlis – the Traders of the Sultan

Author

Listed:
  • Gergana Georgieva

    (‘St Cyril and St Methodius’ University of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria)

  • Nikolay Todorov

    (Regional Museum of History, Silistra, Bulgaria)

Abstract

In the late 18th century the Ottoman Empire almost completely lost control of its import and export trade, which were run mainly by foreign merchants. Therefore, a large part of Ottoman traders accepted the status of proteges of those mustemins and became foreign citizens. In early 19th century the Ottoman authorities took some steps in order to restore the balance. They created two special categories of Ottoman merchants – avrupa tuccars (non-Muslims) and hayriye tuccars (Muslims), also known as beratlis, because of the special certificate (berat) they received from the authorities. The beratlis had the right to trade on the international market and to organize the international trade of the Empire. Beratlis were distinguished by a number of privileges they received from the Ottoman authorities, by the considerable capital they possessed, and by the networks of contacts and connections in the Ottoman Empire and abroad that they built. The article presents the category of non-Muslim beratlis, based on data from two Ottoman defters stored in the Ottoman archive in Istanbul. Some analyses were made based on the names of the beratlis, their place of residence, the year of the beginning of their activity, and the names of their assistants. We were able to reconstruct the ethnic and religious structure of the group; geographical distribution of the beratlis and their assistants; their networks and connections. Special emphasis in the presented examples is put on Bulgarian lands and some figures of the Bulgarian Revival registered also as beratlis.

Suggested Citation

  • Gergana Georgieva & Nikolay Todorov, 2020. "Beratlis – the Traders of the Sultan," Proceedings of the Centre for Economic History Research, Centre for Economic History Research, vol. 5, pages 39-54, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:ceh:journl:y:2020:v:5:p:39-54
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ivaylo Naydenov, 2017. "Commercial Entrepreneurship during the Bulgarian National Revival Period: the Case of Pulievi Brothers (1839–1868)," Proceedings of the Centre for Economic History Research, Centre for Economic History Research, vol. 2, pages 343-355, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    beratlis; Avrupa tuccars; Ottoman merchants; non-Muslim merchants; Ottoman Empire; international trade; 19th century;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N15 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N73 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N75 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Asia including Middle East

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