Barriers to the Textile Proto-industry Development in Bulgarian lands in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

Textile production in the Bulgarian lands was one of the main branches of the Ottoman economy at the time of its inclusion in world trade. According to some researchers, after the 18th century, the Ottoman territories played the role of a periphery that provided the raw materials for the rapid industrial development of European countries. In addition, some parts of the Ottoman Empire were incorporated into the world economic system. Although the historiography focuses mainly on woolen production, silk production has its significant place in the development of the economy and market. The thesis of this research is that the textile production in the Bulgarian lands in the 18th and 19th centuries can be considered as a proto-industry that meets a number of criteria in Mendels' definition. According to F. Mendels, proto-industrialization is the first, preparatory phase of industrialization. It represents a rapid growth of traditionally organized, but market-oriented industries. This economic development was accompanied by population growth and lead to the most important changes, necessary for the emergence of industry: regional specialization and commercialization of agriculture, accumulation of capitals, development of entrepreneurship, capture of distant markets, creation of manpower for industry.