The production of tobacco in Ottoman Empire and the example in Sinop province

Tobacco, that had been introduced to the Old World spread to many parts of the world in a short time by sailors after the discovery of the American continent. With the widespread cultivation and use of tobacco in time, tobacco has been addressed and examined in many areas such as literature, religion, and law government administration. Tobacco was banned in almost all countries where tobacco was introduced due to the fact that it causes fires, it is considered a waste of time, and sometimes it brings the people who criticise the management together, and due to the bad smell of smokers. Because of these reasons, sometimes the lands were taken from the owners of those who dealt with tobacco agriculture, and sometimes tobacco smokers paid the price with their lives. However, the cultivation, use, and trade of tobacco could not be prevented despite all measures taken. In the years ahead, it became the number one source of income for the states and also it became an important means of living for the society. In this study, from the discovery of tobacco plant to its becoming popular in Europe and the Ottoman Empire is covered. In addition to the these subjects, the importance of tobacco for the Ottoman Empire and its people, 19th, and The Regie Administration established in the last quarter of the century and its implementations are among the topics of this study. The micro-scale focus of the study is the treatment of Regie Management and tobacco agriculture in Sinop Kastamonu Province from the last quarter of 19th century, to the end of the first quarter of 19th century. In the study, archive documents of Ottoman and Republican periods in the Republic of Turkey and Chairman of the Presidential Archives and works with copy rights and research in various periodicals are the main resources. The aim is to shed light on the socio-economic life in Sinop in the late Ottoman period, based on tobacco agriculture, within the framework of the findings. Key Words: Tobacco, Ottoman Empire, Sinop, Ottoman Public debt, Rüsum-u Sitte, Regie Management, Smuggling, Decree of Muharrem