WEAVING TRADES IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Abstract

This study focuses on weavers, one of the tradesmen who occupied an important place in the Ottoman institutions. Without analysing the Ottoman institutions, it is not possible to depict the Ottoman Empire in a realistic way. From this point of view, the characteristics of the weaver tradesmen, who have an important place in both economic, social and cultural fields, the employees of the weaver tradesmen, the materials used in the production of the weaver tradesmen and the products produced by the weaver tradesmen, the legal issues arising from the guilds of the weaver tradesmen, as well as the quality of production and customer satisfaction such as the delivery of the product are emphasised. It was determined in the study that those who practised the profession of weaving were called cullahs and the pir of the cullahs was Hz. İlyâs. It was observed that the weavers generally worked in small workshops or in their homes, the employees of the weavers were trained through the apprenticeship system, apprentices could rise to journeyman and journeymen to master. It was understood that the most important materials used by the weavers were silk, wool and cotton, and that these materials were woven on looms of various sizes and dimensions, and that materials such as spindles, kirman and combs were also needed for weaving. It is understood that the weavers generally wove rugs and carpets with these materials, but they also produced many other garments and goods. It has been observed that the weavers faced legal problems arising from guild practices, tax obligations and customers, and these problems were solved according to the principle of balancing competition and protecting the rights of the relevant tradesmen. An attempt has been made to draw a general framework about the position of weavers in the Ottoman Empire.