Provision of oars and oars men in the Ottoman navy

The Ottoman navy is based on a tradition that has continued for centuries. This tradition spans a broad spectrum, extending from the Seljuk Empire of Turkey to the Beylik period and encompassing other elements within the geography of Anatolia. In this respect, the Ottoman navy is not only politically based but also encompasses social, economic, and even legal aspects. The large and specialized workforce within the navy and the supply of a wide variety and large quantities of raw materials for naval ships inevitably made the issue relevant to such diverse political, legal, and economic areas. Before the transition to galleys, the Ottoman navy's propulsion mechanism relied on human power, and the oarsmen were the most important and visible group in this mechanism. The material infrastructure supporting this human power was just as critical as the oarsmen themselves, and the materials and procurement methods used in the construction of the oars that propelled the ships directly determined the state's maritime capacity. During this period, the timber required for the production of oars was sourced primarily from durable trees such as oak and beech; procurement was sometimes fulfilled through forestry obligations and sometimes through purchase. The expansion of the state's borders and the capture of important coastal and island centers in the Mediterranean, in particular, made it clear that the existence and importance of a strong navy was essential for the Ottoman Empire to secure and maintain control of these areas.