Erzurum Chamber of Commerce in the Ottoman Period: Opening and First Activities

Abstract

In the Ottoman Empire, during the modernization process of the economic and commercial system, chambers of commerce started to be opened in order to investigate the necessary things for the development of trade and to convey them to the higher authorities, to register the merchants and to develop cooperation between them. The first Chamber of Commerce was opened in 1882 in Istanbul.

Erzurum Chamber of Commerce was one of the first chambers of commerce opened in the Ottoman country. The main reason for this was that Erzurum was in a central position in terms of trade of the eastern provinces of Anatolia and was located on the Trabzon-Tabriz route.

Erzurum Chamber of Commerce was opened in 1885. The opening date of the Erzurum Chamber of Commerce has been correctly determined for the first time in this article. Again in this article, the characteristics, purpose, first managers and first activities of the Chamber of Commerce are explained and evaluated in the light of the documents obtained.

On the other hand, information was given about the reopening of the Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of the 19^th century and during the National Struggle Period.