Iran ahkâm defteri (İranian Judgment Book) dated 1824 1908: Merchants, consoles and visitors

This thesis studies the Iran Ahkâm Defteri which can be found in Ottoman Archives; Iran Ahkâm Defteri includes 759 provisions and the thesis discusses the activities of Iranian merchants in Ottoman cities and towns as well as the developing sociological and juridicial actions. Şehbender, Şehbender vekili, maslahatgüzar, karperdaz and the other officials who were appointed to Ottoman cities and towns in order to regulate the business of Iranian merchants are also a part of this thesis with their commercial and social activities. Both The Ottoman Empire and Iran are located in one of the oldest trade routes of the World. Since they stand upon a route where Silk Road and Spice Trade intersect, the historical process was also discussed with the help of scientific studies. Additionally, the social and economic actions were explained briefly. The studies on Ottoman-Iran trade relations until the first quarter of the nineteenth century are also mentioned in this thesis. The dominant forces in the region were England, Russia and France. As a result of their ruthless competition and provoking Russia, a war which lasted three and a half years(1820-1823) broke out. At the end of this violent war both the Ottoman Empire and Iran suffered from serious loss. Consequently, regional trade stopped completely and because of the pressuring mercantile class two states had to sign a treaty. Thanks to this treaty the trading activity started again, thus the mercantile class reached their goal. The local community who had to deal with famine and poverty. In addition, the mercantile class of both sides who suffered from great loss could finally breathe again. Ahkâm Defteri is a register book which keeps record of the provisions about commercial and political activities between the Ottoman Empire and Iran which v started with the trade agreement. The provisions command fair treatment towards Iranian merchants and aim an economic relief as a consequence. It is intriguing to see that both states were willing to follow the agreement. The merchants who were killed by the bandits for the sake of commercial gain and their merchandise are meticulously studied in this thesis. The biggest customs gate between two states which is known as Erzurum Gümrüğü and the merchandise which passes through this gate are also included in the thesis. There is more information about the officials who act as Iranian ambassadors, such as şehbender and şehbender vekili, and their appointment/removal processes than the information about trading activities. The provisions about the fair treatment towards the high ranked Iranian guests who are on their way to Hejaz (Hicaz) for the Hajj or other purposes are addressed to the state oficials along the way. These provisions are also presented in Ahkâm Defteri. KEY WORDS: Persian Shawl, Indian Shawl, Tumbak, Persian Cherry Wood (Persian Cherry Walking Sticks), Iranian Şehbender oficials, Iranian pilgrims, Atebât pilgrims.