Trabzon customs (1750-1800)

Ill SUMMARY As regards to the geographical position the Ottoman Empire was locating on trading roads which were eligible for exchange of goods at a large scale since ancient times and consequently was obtaining important amount of taxation revenues. In the meanwhile, Trabzon had gradually been grown and developed as an important harbour city in respect to transportation of residual products of Anatolia to Black Sea ports, in transshipment of the goods coming through silk- delivery road to the west, in transportation of western products to Eastern provinces and in commercial activities within the Black Sea region, Particularly, the city's position to acat as an important harbour city regarding the transit trade caused organization of a custom centre in Trabzon, For the purpose of taxation concerning commercial activities in Eastern Black Sea region, particular Codes of Law had been enacted early at the beginning of XVI'th century concerning economic affairs. Custom Department established under the light of such laws was producing a "Farming out (taxation)", "mukata'a", concerning "ihtisab", "dellaliye", " şemhane" and for contractors on the condition of payment of was being transferred an annual amount of 848.000 akçe (Ottoman monetary unit) to the Treasury. As the divisions taking place within Trabzon Customs "Farming out (taxation)", "mukata'a", were being operated through Contractors it had attracted their attention it had attracted their attention of tax-IV formers at a large scale. Consequently the struggled with each other for contracting the mukata'a. The most important problem clusing difficulties for Trabzon Customs tax-farmers and was being created by some merchants who were trying to smuggle their own goods and not to pay duty. As most of them were military deserters collection of tax was being difficult. Custom Contractors were frequently submitting their demands to Divan-i Hümayun (Council of State) for elimination of strugles. In this present study, along whit certain subjects included hereinabove, it has been intende to make clear, according to archived documents in general the situation corcerning the salaries of quardismen employed at Trabzon and Sohum castles, expenditures of some mosques in Trabzon city and Sohum castles, in addition to commercial relations in Black Sea region, and the effects of several wars witnessed subsequent to XVIII's century and rebellion actions in and around Trabzon.