The Bursa Specialization Law as a Market Regulatory Mechanism

15444

During the reign of Bayezid the Second, the Ottoman state achieved development in many aspects. Amongst Ottoman cities of this period, Bursa was one of the important cities, being a commercial centre as well as serving as an economic bridge between the east and the west. In parallel with the development of the Ottoman State, the city making progress in socio-economic and cultural areas became one of the important trade centres in Anatolia. As a result of this development, it was necessary for the state to use the supervision mechanisms in place and keep the market properly and constantly controlled, this so that healthy trade could be achieved. In this sense, one of the most important control instruments of the state was the ceiling system. With the implementation of the ceiling system, not only the sales prices of goods and services were determined, but also the production conditions and the standards of all types of commodities that were received, sold and/or processed in each area were determined. This was an important regulation that protected the rights of the consumer. The Bursa Specialization Law dating from 1502 is one of the earliest documents concerning the ceiling system and specialization regulations. In addition to an overall assessment of the law, this study notes the importance of understanding the situation of tradesmen in Bursa and the operational modes of the Ottoman state‟s economic control mechanisms.

149

II. Bayezid , Bursa , Specialization Law , Ceiling

Mediterranean Journal Of Humanities

157

Mediterranean Journal Of Humanities