The evolution of commercial institutions and business networks in the Ottoman empire: British merchant families and individual merchants in the Levant trade in the 18th century

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Serdaroglu, Uzeyir Serdar (2019). The evolution of commercial institutions and business networks in the Ottoman empire: British merchant families and individual merchants in the Levant trade in the 18th century. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis has been written with the purpose of contributing to the existing general literature on the Levant trade while at the same time being informed by recent advances in research on Ottoman business history. Our aim in this thesis was to study the effect of institutional and organizational change that the Levant Company underwent in the 18th century on the evolution of individual business networks. This thesis is based on an examination of British and Ottoman archival documents and Lloyd's Lists and Registers, which have served as our main source of data and information for the purpose of identifying the initiatives undertaken by individual merchants that led to the creation of new business networks after the year 1753.
The variables on which this change in the character of trade depended most and the areas in which the impact of
such change was experienced most intensely is revealed during the course of our study. This thesis demonstrates
the distinctive character of relationships between family merchants on the one hand and individual merchants on the other in different phases of the early, middle and late 18th century. Furthermore, it confirms the effects that the liberalization and easing of access to trade that the Levant Company introduced in the period between 1744 and 1753 as part of a broad institutional as well as legislative transformation. The character and scope of business activity undertaken by Levant merchants changed significantly in consequence. This thesis departs from the current historiography with its network analysis in favour of high-level programming language (Python). It also marks a departure in showing the trade routes of the Levant Company with web-based data visualization and analytical apps (Plotly) through utilising shipping registers for the 18th century.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):