Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman Istanbul

Long-term peace between the Ottoman Empire and Iran provided an opportunity for Iranians to carry out various activities, especially trade, in the Ottoman Empire. Istanbul, the link between Asia and Europe, had become a point of interest to Iranian merchants as early as the 18th century, but it was...

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Main Author: Abdülkadir Yeler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2023-07-01
Series:Journal of Economy Culture and Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2866992
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author Abdülkadir Yeler
author_facet Abdülkadir Yeler
author_sort Abdülkadir Yeler
collection DOAJ
description Long-term peace between the Ottoman Empire and Iran provided an opportunity for Iranians to carry out various activities, especially trade, in the Ottoman Empire. Istanbul, the link between Asia and Europe, had become a point of interest to Iranian merchants as early as the 18th century, but it was particularly during the second half of the 19th century that one could speak of a well-organized Iranian community at the heart of the social and commercial life of the city. This community, formed mainly by merchants, was also a religious community belonging to the Shia sect, which enabled them to act together and form an organized community in Ottoman Istanbul, the population of which consisted mainly of Sunni Muslims. The combination of religious, cultural, social, and other practices of the Iranian merchants had brought an institutionalization along with it, and thus memories were created that would leave a legacy in the cultural history of Istanbul. Through an investigation of state archives in Turkey, this study aims to explore the story of Iranian merchants during the 19th century Ottoman period in Istanbul, focusing on their commercial, social and religious lives. The findings of the study shed light on the institutionalization of Iranian merchants as a close-knit community based on their commitment to sect-based practices.
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spelling doaj-art-a41e13dd889c4f2ba3ede377d0b689f02025-02-04T10:17:12ZengIstanbul University PressJournal of Economy Culture and Society2645-87722023-07-01671191334Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman IstanbulAbdülkadir Yeler0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4791-6118ISTANBUL MEDENIYET UNIVERSITYLong-term peace between the Ottoman Empire and Iran provided an opportunity for Iranians to carry out various activities, especially trade, in the Ottoman Empire. Istanbul, the link between Asia and Europe, had become a point of interest to Iranian merchants as early as the 18th century, but it was particularly during the second half of the 19th century that one could speak of a well-organized Iranian community at the heart of the social and commercial life of the city. This community, formed mainly by merchants, was also a religious community belonging to the Shia sect, which enabled them to act together and form an organized community in Ottoman Istanbul, the population of which consisted mainly of Sunni Muslims. The combination of religious, cultural, social, and other practices of the Iranian merchants had brought an institutionalization along with it, and thus memories were created that would leave a legacy in the cultural history of Istanbul. Through an investigation of state archives in Turkey, this study aims to explore the story of Iranian merchants during the 19th century Ottoman period in Istanbul, focusing on their commercial, social and religious lives. The findings of the study shed light on the institutionalization of Iranian merchants as a close-knit community based on their commitment to sect-based practices.https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2866992iranian merchantsottomanistanbulshiitereligious community
spellingShingle Abdülkadir Yeler
Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman Istanbul
Journal of Economy Culture and Society
iranian merchants
ottoman
istanbul
shiite
religious community
title Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman Istanbul
title_full Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman Istanbul
title_fullStr Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman Istanbul
title_full_unstemmed Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman Istanbul
title_short Iranian Merchants as a Religious Community in Late Ottoman Istanbul
title_sort iranian merchants as a religious community in late ottoman istanbul
topic iranian merchants
ottoman
istanbul
shiite
religious community
url https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2866992
work_keys_str_mv AT abdulkadiryeler iranianmerchantsasareligiouscommunityinlateottomanistanbul