16th century

1. 16th century • The city of Istanbul was the crossroads of trade between the East and West. Caravans ans ships carried silk, tea,spices and porcelain. From the Black Sea and southern Russian came ships with furs,grain and amber and from Europe mirrors and drugs. Ships from Venice and Genoa carried goods to Europe. The Ottomans inherited the Seljuk caravan stops ( kervansaray ) which were about 25 miles apart on the main trade routes of the empire to protect the caravan trade and the Ottoman navy delt with pirates in its waters. • The early Ottoman allies, the French were the first Europeans to be granted trade rights in 1534. The English were allowed in 1567 and in 1581 Queen Elizabeth I granted the Turkey Company an exclusive charter to trade with the Ottoman Empire.