Sources and Studies on the Ottoman Black Sea: The Customs Register of Caffa, 1487-1490

Halil İnalcık's scholarly work presents and analyzes a customs register from the Ottoman port city of Caffa during the years 1487-1490. The register documents trade activities, commodities, merchants, and customs duties in this Black Sea commercial hub shortly after its conquest by the Ottomans. The book contains a complete transcription and translation of the original customs register, accompanied by detailed annotations and commentary. Statistical data and tables break down the types of goods traded, their values, and the various merchant communities involved in Black Sea commerce. The study examines the economic networks connecting Caffa to other major trading centers across the Black Sea region, the Mediterranean, and Central Asia. Through analysis of the register's data, İnalcık reconstructs patterns of regional and long-distance trade during this pivotal period. This work stands as a fundamental resource for understanding Ottoman economic administration and the commercial dynamics of the Black Sea region in the late 15th century. The customs register offers insights into the transition period after Ottoman expansion into the northern Black Sea and the empire's integration of newly conquered territories.

This appears to be a specialized academic text with limited public reviews available online. Due to its focus on Ottoman customs registers and trade data from the late 15th century, the book seems to have a small audience of historians and researchers rather than general readers. No reviews could be found on Goodreads, Amazon, or other major book review sites. The book's citations in academic papers indicate scholars value it as a primary source for: - Black Sea trade statistics - Economic conditions in Caffa - Ottoman taxation systems - Medieval merchant networks Without broader reader reviews to analyze, a proper review summary cannot be compiled. Any attempts to characterize general reception would be speculative given the lack of public feedback on this specialized historical text. Consider updating this response if reader reviews become available in the future.

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🔷 The customs register (gümrük defteri) analyzed in this book is one of the oldest surviving Ottoman customs records, providing unique insights into late 15th-century Black Sea trade networks and commerce. 🔷 Caffa (modern-day Feodosiya in Crimea) was a major trading hub where Italian merchants from Genoa had established a flourishing colony before its conquest by the Ottomans in 1475. 🔷 Author Halil İnalcık is considered one of the preeminent Ottoman historians of the 20th century, having pioneered the use of Ottoman archival documents to reconstruct economic and social history. 🔷 The register reveals that Caffa served as a crucial entry point for slaves from the steppes of Russia and the Caucasus into the Ottoman Empire, with detailed records of human trafficking transactions. 🔷 The document shows how the Ottoman Empire maintained many of the existing Genoese trading practices and partnerships after conquering the city, demonstrating their pragmatic approach to managing newly acquired territories.