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.

Merchants on the Mediterranean: Ottoman–Dutch Trade in the Eighteenth Century PDF

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