An institutional analysis of the Ottoman shipping sector in the Black Sea Region between 1829 and 1861: merchants and ships

Abstract

The aim the thesis is to analyze thoroughly an exemplary micro-economic sphere in the nineteenth century. To achieve such purpose, I chose to scrutinize the shipping sector in the Anatolian Black Sea between 1830 and1861. Contrary to those of Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea port-cities never integrated to the world economy with the exception of Trabzon. Therefore, comparing shipping sector in the Black Sea, which transformation diverged in many points, with that of the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea constituted a sui generis example with its ships and market structure. Using B.O.A. archive documents, especially maritime certificates, the wooden ship types with the sizes and other physical features are determined. Moreover, the shipping market, including the main ship building sites, the structure and the trends of the market, the partnerships, and the feature of every ship-owners group are analyzed by using economic theory.