Trading relationships between great Seljuk Empire and Italian city-statesin Mediterranean Basin

The Anatolian Seljuk State was founded in 1075 by Kutalmışoğlu Süleyman Şah, and continued its rule over the lands it had seized until 1308. It was based on the institutions and relations of the Great Seljuk State in the political, social, economic and cultural activities it carried out during the centuries it established domination in Anatolia. It is also known that the Great Seljuk State established political relations with the Greeks living in these lands since the first years of its arrival in Anatolia. The political relations developed by the wars and the treaties signed thereafter have gradually manifested itself in other areas. An important example is the relations with the Byzantine Empire, the greatest power of the West. The relations that started with Byzantium in Anatolian lands were established with other European states as they progressed to the lands of the West. The relations established between the Italian city states and the Anatolian Seljuk State are of great importance especially for the activities carried out in the Mediterranean Basin. Because although the Italian city-states first appeared in the Mediterranean Sea under the protection of Byzantium, they gradually gained strength and seized the dominance of the Eastern Mediterranean. In this case, the agricultural structure of the Anatolian Seljuk State has led to significant developments in the economic structure. Exporting of surplus products obtained from agricultural activities to the west and the importation of products imported from the west into Anatolian lands have been very important in the economic development of the states. These relations, which started with the conquest of the land bounded to the Mediterranean and reinforced by the treaties signed after the struggles that took place from time to time, continued for centuries in Anatolia. Both the Seljuks and the Seljuks who established the domination of the Anatolian lands after the Ilkhans and Turkmen principalities, which contributed greatly to the economic development of these relations have made great efforts to avoid damage.