Merchants on the Mediterranean : Ottoman-Dutch Trade in the Eighteenth Century

How easy and uncomplicated was it for an 18th century, medium-sized, Ottoman trade company to expand its business in the West? What were the decisions to be made and the setbacks to overcome? Which kind of resources, in terms of knowledge, information, experience, contacts and capital, could guarantee its successful passage from the business environment of a precapitalist oriental market to that of a major commercial and financial center of western Europe? Following the venture of the Ottoman Greek merchants Bartholomew and Raphael Cardamici, who in the 1760s traded goods between Smyrna, Constantinople and Amsterdam, Despina Vlami investigates various aspects of the organization and strategy necessary for such an important transition. To expand their whole-sale trade business to Amsterdam, the Cardamici chose as their local correspondent an experienced and strongminded Dutch merchant, Thomas De Vogel. De Vogel’s letters addressed to his Ottoman clients reveal the course of their business transactions and the making of their personal relationship. At the same time, they are comprehensive and efficient tutorials on trade business and strategy guiding the Ottoman Greek merchants to the unpredictable and mainly unfamiliar to them 18th century international business universe. How easy and uncomplicated was it for an 18th-century, medium-sized, Ottoman trade company to expand its business in the West? Which kind of resources, in terms of knowledge, information, experience, contacts and capital, could guarantee its successful passage from the business environment of a precapitalist oriental market to that of a major commercial and financial center of western Europe? Following the venture of the Ottoman Greek merchants Bartholo and Raphael Cardamici, who in the 1760s traded goods between Smyrna, Constantinople and Amsterdam, Despina Vlami investigates various aspects of the organization and strategy necessary for such an important transition. To expand their wholesale trade business to Amsterdam, the Cardamicis chose as their local correspondent an experienced and strong-minded Dutch merchant, Thomas De Vogel. De Vogel's letters addressed to his Ottoman clients reveal the course of their business transactions and the making of their personal relationship. At the same time, they are comprehensive and efficient tutorials on trade business and strategy guiding the Ottoman Greek merchants through the unpredictable and unfamiliar 18th-century international business universe. Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Tables Acknowledgements Preface Chapter 1: Dutch merchants in the east, Ottoman merchants in the west Amsterdam: From the golden age to the eighteenth century of transformation Dutch merchants in the Ottoman Empire: The institutional context Dutch trade in the East Ottoman merchants and Dutch trade in the eighteenth century Chapter 2: Merchants and correspondents The Cardamici business environment The Dutch merchant and commercial correspondent Thomas De Vogel Chapter 3: Threads and diamonds Chapter 4: Ships, freights and insurance Captains and charterers for Ottoman clients Captains and ships in the service of the Cardamicis Chapter 5: The money trade Liquidity and the trade in bills of exchange The Cardamici business financing network Smyrn​a–Con​stant​inopl​e–Ams​terda​m–Vie​nna–L​ivorn​o Chapter 6: A Dutch masterclass of trading Good faith and a sense of duty Global, timely and reliable knowledge Quality control Business intuition and sensitivity: Organization and timing Conclusion: Merchants on the Mediterranean: Ottoman–Dutch trade in the eighteenth century Appendix Notes Bibliography Index