Storia

Anatolia serving as a bridge between the Orient and the Occident since the Ancient times, at the same time, it became the cradle for many civilizations. Anatolia, where first Hitties 2000B.C. later the Phrygians, the Lydians, the Urartu states as well as Persian, Roman and Byzantine Empires prevailed, was the country of mosaics which helped in the formation of European civilization. During the years before Christ Anatolia in the land over which the Royal Road passed and where new and important highways bridges were built. These contributed greatly to the development of the trade between the East and the West.
Having Turks made Anatolia their home as from the beginning of the 11^th century, while carrying along with them their self properties and the elements of the Steppe-land culture and those of Island culture, they considered themselves as the true heirs of the Anatolian civilization. Here they reformed a new cultural synthesis.
Following the settlement of Turks on "these lands", the area which was in complete ruins because of wars between Byzantines and Arabs, began to flourish in trade the economic life began to prosper with the increase in population.
Today the establishment of the initial relations betwwen Turkey and Venice which has overtaken the duty of establishing political, economic, and cultural unity among the peoples of Europe, dates as far back as the Medieval times. The trade transactions carried out between Byzantium and Moslem countries had played a significant role in the development of Venice which depended on sea trade. The develop these trade relations, Venice obtained trading privileges from Byzantium at the start of the 11^th century A.D. and from the Crusaders in the Middle East as well as from the North African Arab Emirates in the 12^th century.
The Venetians, which became an important power in the Mediterranean trade, established official commercial relations with the Seljukids of Asia Minor at the beginning of the 13^th century. In this period, for the Turkish Sultans, who established a state order and political stability in Anatolia, it was of a vital importance to put the trade routes passing through Anatolia under their control, and to open up to seas.
In this period, there were two principal trade routes passing through Anatolia. The firsts one was the traditional land route extending from the East to the west, which supplied the Byzantine Empire with goods from the East. This route connected Turkestan to Istanbul (Costantinople) through Iran via Sivas and Ankara. Another road extended to Alanya (Alaiye) and Antalya (Attalia) from Sivas. The second route of significance was the sea route extending from North to South and connecting the European and Egytian or Syrian ports to Anatolia. The gate of this road in Southern Anatolia was Antalya, Alanya and Yumurtalik. It then reached as far as the port of Sugdak in Crimea and was connected with the road from Kayseri to Sivas. Anatolian Seljukids putting under control of these trade routes, and their joining in the international sea trade became possible after the conquest of seaports like Antalya in the south and Sinop in the north. As a result of the Fourth Crusades in 1204, Byzantine Empire disintegraded, and separete Greek and feodal Latin States were founded in its place. In Antalya, which was no longer under the soverignty of Byzantium, order and security were disrupted. Sultan Kaykhusrav conquered the city which ha received aid also from the kingdom of Cyprus, with the support of native Greek people on 5^th March 1207.
Following the conquest of Sinop in 1216, the trade routes passing through Anatolia came under the control of Sultans, and thus they began to sign trade agreements with the Christians states abroad. Trade treaties referred to as "Ahidnames" in the Ottoman terminology, ad as capitulations in the Western languages, are different from contemporary agreements, which were one-sided privileges granted to the opposite side, they were regulated according to "Fikih (Moslem Code). (1)
The early ahdnames began to be granted by Turkish Sultans which the aim of joining in the international trade, and enlivening the Anatolian trade, and at times with the purpose of earning political allies against another Christian state.
The first priviledges were granted to be Cypriot Kingdom and Venice, during the time of Sultan Giyaseddin Kaykhusrav, after the conquest of Antalya in 1206. At that time Antalya and Alanya were two important trade centers in southern Anatolia which had strong trade relations with Egypt. Timber, tar and slaves were exported to Egypt from these two ports whereas spices, linen, sugar and other products were imported in return. Merchants from Alexandria, Syria, and western countries came to Antalya and Alanya and from there, on their way to Sinop and Samsun on the Black Sea coast reaching as far as Sugdak and Kefe in Crimea. Durin this period there were close trade relations between Anatolia, Syria,Mesopotania and Southern Russia. First commercial relations were established by the way of Antalya. The oldest capitulation which is preserved in the archive of Vatican, was given to the Cypriot Kindom by Sultans ‘Izz-Din Kay-Kaus (in 1216). In that period, the Island of Cyprus where were merchants from both Christian and Moslem states served as a bridge in the trade relations of Turkey and Europe as well as Egypt.

Alaaddin Kay Kubadh, who succeded his brother Izzedin Keykavus, renewed the trade agreements in 1220. In the concession granted by Kaykubadh, which as been preserved and dated from 1220, they were granted a reproduction of customs duties by 2% in the value of the merchandise, and even complete exemption from payment on grain, unwrought gold and silver, precious stones and pearls. They also obtained a guarantee of the security of their persons and goods even in case of shipwreck and, in other Muslim ports at the same period, they were even granted legal autonomy for their internal affairs together with a special advantage over other Latins since, in the event of a dispute with any of them, the arbitrators were to be nominated by the Venetians.
Chaen (2) suggests that altougt the treaty be coninued for two years only, probaly it is renewed for a long time.
With this treaty another concession that was recognized to foreign tradesman was to have a consulate that would protect their rights and follow up legal matters. In the thirtheenth century the Genoese had a consulate in Sivas and the Venetians in Konya. These privilidges were recognized to foreigners because the principle of personality of law, whitch means every individual is subjected to his own ruler’s law, was in effect in the Middle Ages. The Seljuk Sultans while granting these concessions to Western countries, also made sure that similar rights were being granted to their Subjects. No matter how one-sided the trade agreements asppeared to be, they were prepared in accordance with the principal of reciprocity.
Aside from the ahidnames, there is significant information about the flourishing economy ande trade of Anatolia following the Turkish conquest in the works of western and historians, of that time such as Rubruck, Marco Polo, Pergolotti, al-Omari, Ibn Said and Ibn Battuta. The Dominican missionary William of Rubruck visited the Konya Seljukid Sultanate in 1255, and met there many western merchants.
He wrote that in his book he found the alum trade in the hands on a Genoese, Nicolo of San Siro, and a Venetian Bonifacio of Molinis who together exercised a monopoly. Arab traveller Ibn Battuta, who visited Anatolia in the fourteenth century, stated that "Turkey was the most beautiful country in the world with all the sincerety of its people". In this period Konya, Antalya, Malatya, Erzurum and Diyarbakir became important trade centers. Large Scales of wheat, rice and cotton cultivation were being made in Anatolia; copper mining in Diyarbakir and around Kastamonu, iron ore near Sivas, silver mining around Bayburt, Gumushane and Kutahya were active. While there were rich alum deposits in Kutahya. According to the sources of that period, in the Middle Ages. Anatolia was exporting horses and domestic animals, slin, silk, timber, carpets, silk and cotton fabrics and slave both to Islamic and western countries. They imported in returm, texiles, soap, wine and metal like tin and lead. (3)
Towards the middle of the thirteenth century after the Seljukid State came under the domination of Monghol rule, Turcoman princes (Begs), established principalities (Beyliks) in the region they conquered. The captured areas extending up to the seas of the Marmara and the Aegean developed and florished with their resources under the ground and on the soil a short time. This situation in clearly stated in the works of western historians like Cahen and Zachariadou. (4)
Following the collapse of Ilkhanid domination in Iran, Venice whose trade relations with Byzantium declined began to concentrate its trade relations mostly on the Beyliks of Menteshe and Aydin-ogullari, which were established on Western Anatolia. Menteshe-ogullari which were founted in Mugla (Karia) and Fenike (Foke) possesed the port of Balat (Palatia) which was one of the most famous seaports of Medieval Turkey, while Aydin-ogullari which was established around Izmir, Ayasulung and Birgi owned the port of Ayasulug.
The Republic of Venice transacted its trade relations with Emirates though Crete which was is most significant colony in the Levant. Envoys were sent to Beyliks from Crete, and consuls were appointed. While the first ahidname to the Dukes of Crete was granted by Menteshe Orhan Beg in 1331 to Marino Morosini. Later Ibrahim Beg (1337); Musa Beg (1338); Ahmet Beg (1375); Ilyas Beg (1403, 1407, 1414), Aydin-ogku Hizir Beg (1337, 1348, 1353) granted ahidnames to Cretan Dukes with the aim of regulating their trade relation. (5). According to these ahisnames merchants who were Venetian subjects could make trade freely, and in security on the territories of Menthese and Aydin-ogullari Beyliks. Their consuls who enjoyed political immunity could take care of legal affairs of their subjects. Venetian merchants also whre previleged to buy property, and build houses, warehouse, and churches on the territories of Beykiks. Venice who its merchants in Konya.
Since the principal of reciprocity was observed in most of the trade agreements signed during the period of Beyliks, it is understood that not only Western merchants came to Asia Miinor, but also Turkish tradesmen conducted trade business in Cyprus and in the Aegean Islands. The trademen of Tukey subject reached as far as Venice anly by the fiftheenth century and started settling, and founding colonies there in the sixteenth century.
After the Principalities has been annexed to the Ottoman State by Sultan Bayezid I, the commercial priviledges were renewed to Genoa and Venice by the Ottomans too.
During the Ottoman period, which is out of the scope of may study, trade relations had been continued strictly with Venice and today it may still be remembered that Museo Civico di Storia Naturale was used to be called Fondaco dei Turchi at one time. (6)

As it will be understood from the above summarized Turco-Venetian trade relations with its roots deep in history, today attempt to establich economy and cultural unity among European peoples has a very long past. No matter how different the backgrounds of these peoples are, there is always a noble aim in uniting them culturally and economically.
The attempts of establishing this unity peoples of Europe will certainly draw power and lessons from the past, a noble monumet which had been edified by our ancestors. No doubt, this intigrated society of peoples of Europe will have the opportunity and the blessing of flourishing in friendship and love. This unified world will no doubt have its point of support from the meeting of "Europa Genti".
Let’s wish and hope that this fortunate beginning serve as the start for such unified of love and unity.