Smuggling activities in Konya province(1867-1914)

In this study, smuggling activities in the Konya Province between 1867 and 1914, influenced by political, social, and economic developments and changes in the Ottoman Empire, are examined in detail. It has been determined that smuggling increased as a result of tax and legal violations triggered by these effects. The increase in smuggling activities has caused public order problems and increased crime rates in the province. The central administration and provincial authorities have sought solutions to control this situation. The study first interrogates the factors that led to smuggling in the Ottoman Empire. Additionally, it addresses how European and local merchants, government officials, and non-Muslims exploited the resulting regulatory gaps. Conversely, the Ottoman government and local administrators in the provinces attempted to combat smuggling through legal and administrative methods, taking various measures to curb these activities. These measures included the introduction of legal regulations concerning customs, firearms, gunpowder, salt, tobacco, and dynamite. The processes, causes, and outcomes of these regulations are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the study explores how individuals and groups engaging in smuggling utilized human and geographical factors as tools of exploitation. Finally, it evaluates the effectiveness of the measures taken by the central administration and local officials against smuggling in the Konya Province and examines the economic, political, and administrative consequences of smuggling.