DETERMINATIONS ON THE STATUS OF THE WATER SELLERS’ MONOPOLY OF TRADE RIGHTS IN ISTANBUL AFTER THE ABOLITION OF THE CRAFTSMAN MONOPOLY OF TRADE RIGHTS (1913-1950)

Abstract

The origin of the Ottoman craftsman organization organized under the name of Akhī or craft guild dates back to the Seljuk period and even to the "Turkish-Islamic guild” organization (fütüvvet in Turkish) in the first years of Islam. The dawn of the craftsman's monopoly of trade rights, which is one of the most significant development stages of the Ottoman craftsmen organization, begins in the mid-17th century. The term monopoly of trade right, in the economic sense, means the authorization of the craftsmen to perform their art in the Ottoman Empire, it also refers to the limitation of each craft to a certain number of branches and the shop and the tools and equipment required for that craft therein. Towards the end of the 18th century, the system of the monopoly of trade rights began to conflict with the goals sought by the state due to the efforts of craftsman organizations to transform the monopoly of trade rights into a closed monopolization. For this reason, some regulations have been introduced in time. The monopoly of trade rights have been abolished by the "Ad-hoc Law on Abolition of Monopoly of Trade Rights" enacted on 1 March 1913. The water sellers' monopoly of trade rights, which serves in supplying the water, needs of Istanbul have continued their existence thereafter. Some issues regarding the situation of the water sellers' monopoly of trade rights were contained in official correspondences. Some of which include whether it is appropriate to abolish water sellers' monopoly of trade rights, if so, whether or not the monopoly of trade rights costs will be paid or by which institution. In conclusion, by an additional article enacted in 1916, it is resolved to abolish the water sellers' monopoly of trade rights. However, some sources imply that despite this additional article, water sellers' monopoly of trade rights continued to exist until the 1950s. In our opinion, the bill for the drafted additional article did not qualify as a law or if it did, it could not be implemented. The aim of our study is to provide information about the water sellers' monopoly of trade rights and then to determine the status of the water sellers' monopoly of trade rights after 1913. The principal source of our study is the documents we obtained from the Ottoman State Archives. In addition, we make use of research books related to our topic. Keywords: Akhī-order, Craftsman, Monopoly of Trade Rights, Water Seller, Istanbul.