Trade volume of Baghdad in the British consulate reports (1900-1912)

The city of Baghdad, which was founded on the banks of the Tigris river, has taken an important strategic position due to the effects of both natural and human factors, and has had a strong political, economic and cultural position in every period of history. Baghdad, which has an important place in the history scene during the Abbasid period, was included in the important Turkish-Islamic states and from time to time was subject to the contention of the states ruling in the region. It came under the domination of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century and remained within the borders of this state until the first quarter of the 20th century. In the 20st century, with the political developments in the world, Baghdad has increased in importance in terms of its political and economic characteristics. During this period, one of the European states, especially Britain, carried out activities in order to establish its influence in Baghdad and its surroundings in line with its own economic and political interests, and in this context, it worked to achieve its goals through both the consulates and companies it established there. By the 20th century, British influence in Baghdad and the surrounding area reached an important point. This study has been prepared in the light of the trade reports kept by the British consulate in Baghdad and the relevant documents obtained from the Ottoman Archives of the same period. In this context, as well as the trade volume of Baghdad in the period examined (1900-1912), the price of the goods traded here, transportation and wages of workers in the city were also included in the study.