https://www.flickr.com/photos/148061870@N03/albums/72157671713882223

Art of the Arab Lands

https://www.flickr.com/photos/148061870@N03/albums/72157675110035486

Jerusalem

Your journey to the Near East is going to be risky. However, the rewards are substantial. Be prepared for experiencing firsthand two neighboring cultures colliding head on. The colliding differences are likely to hinder your ambitions, but do not be discouraged as it is possible to partake in profitable business in this area. Beware of the differences between Muslims and Christians during your travels. Please see below for the details to follow which may be helpful in your travels eastbound in anticipation of dealing with the Ottomans.

Key Summarized Points that should be followed or experienced if applicable:

• Turkish males have a dress code – Turban, sash, boots and a sword or knife. Be sure to take note of this.
• Women also have a dress code too; they must cover themselves with veils. Do not be alarmed and try your best to act natural when you see this.
• There is a major difference in weather that makes people live longer than those back in Venice. Hey, maybe you will wind up staying in the Ottoman East in your old age!
• Unlike Venice, the Ottomans have access to delicious fresh fruits. Indulge in these and enjoy. If there is an opportunity to earn profits on fruits by all means take advantage of the opportunity.
• The Sultan is in command. With that, the pashas are loyal and second in command to Sultan. Be sure to abide by the local regulations and laws otherwise you will run into a great deal of trouble.

Briefly highlighted above are some general key points which you will notice upon your arrival and exploration of the Ottoman East. Be prepared to meet people from all walks of life in Ottoman city as it is economically booming.  Locals will include, but are not limited to fisherman, soldiers, scholars, handicraftsmen and soldier. This is where you will achieve your business aspirations. Seeing people who do not resemble your ethnic background is by no means a big deal; do not make a fuss over this. Locals know it is more common for Christian merchants to attempt to conduct business with Ottomans than it is for an Ottoman to seek out business with Christian Europeans. My good friend, the merchant of Venice – you’re not in Venice, anymore. With that, you will notice from your surroundings that Ottoman city is very powerful in terms of military.

Carrying on with this idea of military power, Ottoman government operates a bit different than the European republic-style governments that you are accustomed to seeing at home. All of the judicial rulings are ruled directly under the authority of the Sultan or his local subordinate and with the Sultan’s judgement. Noted, rulings are based entirely on the discretion of the Sultan or these other authorized authoritative figures which means rulings can be inconsistent. My friend, avoid any legal trouble at all costs as business and trade will be the least of your worries I promise you. Noted, the rulings are actually well maintained so you have that on your side.

I would go so far to argue that the biggest difference you will see in Ottoman East is the presence of their religion. Everywhere you will see mosques; this is a Muslim place of worship. Distinct in their architecture you will know a mosque when you see a mosque. Look up in the sky and see large domes on top of magnificent structures – you guessed it, that’s a mosque. Five times daily streets be prepared to hear Islamic prayers bouncing off the walls in every street of the city from local leaders of worship, or Imam. This is not terribly different from Christianity in Venice except you are a foreign so this may seem odd to you. Just as you have your own ideas and beliefs and other Venetians, so to the Ottomans.

In summary, if you take the preceding writings into consideration you will thrive in the Near East. With careful action, thought, and adherence and acceptance of local laws and customary beliefs you will find yourself to enjoy the East rather much. Be well, good luck, and enjoy the fruit.

HIS3360 Blog #3 Part One:

Jerusalem Exhibit

My exploration of the Jerusalem exhibit was very interesting to say the least. As I walked through I examined many different remnants tracing back to religion, trade and war. Without question my favorite piece was the Chasse of Ambazae. This was a breathtaking chest constructed of gold decorated with dazzling precious stones with traces back to the eastern Mediterranean area. With traces to warfare it was interesting to see a Christian sword compared directly next to an Islamic sword. We know how both of these religions intermingled in good ways and bad shaping Eastern Europe’s history.

Art of the Arab Lands Exhibit

During my walk through of the Art of the Arab Lands exhibit and accompanying sections I couldn’t help but feel there was a massive amount of textiles, whether it be carpets, drapes or the like. There was a large room that displayed an enormous carpet on the floor. These textiles with beautiful designs highlight the merchant emphasis placed on these regions as it is likely these regions traded textiles heavily. My favorite piece in the exhibit included an invention that the tour guide explained “… Is exactly what you use on the Fourth of July.” The eastern Europeans had barbeques. Also, these devices were used to keep warm in the colder conditions faced.

Being a Merchant was not easy job. However, they were so good things about it because in some city they were set up places that merchant could bath them self. Also, they could have place to eat.  They are also was a lot of regulation of trade. However Sultan saw the opportunity by those people to bring prosperity to the country. He try to help them, but there still counted as a lesser citizen. The didn’t have all the rights and privileges. They were bring the important resources to the country. Also, as I saw it in the museum the bring also influence for East to West and other way around.

Traveling to the Near East will be a major source of cultural clash and anxiety for any diplomat or merchant from Europe seeking to do business in the region. There are a plethora of cultural, religious and historical differences between the Muslims and the Christian peoples of Europe which may get in the way of productively conducting business amongst these foreign people. In this briefing, I will outline some of the most important issues to be aware of in your dealings with the Ottomans.

Firstly, I will guide you through many of the sights that will greet you upon your entrance to an Ottoman city, so as to familiarize yourself beforehand. Ottoman cities contain many places of worship—equivalent in their religion to our churches—known as mosques. You can spot these mosques by their large, domed roofs and by the towering minarets which sprout out of the mosques’ four corners. Five times per day, the streets will echo with the call for Islamic prayer that is called from each of these minarets by the local Imam—a Muslim equivalent to a Christian priest or friar.

Expect to see people of all sorts in a dynamic Ottoman city. As these cities are often centres of trade, they will contain people of all sorts, including “fisherman, soldiers, merchants who trade on land and sea, handicraftsmen, scholars and ulema, and vintners.” (Celebi 179). Expect to see many traders and merchants of all sorts in many an Ottoman town because the Ottoman Empire is both a militarily powerful and economically/culturally vibrant one. Interestingly, all of these people will likely be somewhat accustomed to seeing a foreigner such as yourself in their lands because it is far more common for Christian, European merchants to seek trade and business with the Ottomans than it is for an Ottoman emissary or merchant to visit European lands in search of trade.

The laws of government in Ottoman territories is different to the way that it is done in many republican-style governments found in Europe, including the likes of Vienna. All judicial rulings are done at the behest of the Sultan or his local subordinate and with his (or their) arbitrary judgement, there exists a certain degree of legal uncertainty that may best be avoided altogether by avoiding any and all legal altercations whatsoever. With that said, the rule of law is well upheld in Ottoman territories, with strict corporal punishments meted out in cases of non-adherence.

By and large then the Ottoman people are, while very different from Christian Europeans, a people very much willing to open up diplomatically and commercially to Europeans. So long as you are aware of some of the more idiosyncratic cultural practices you may see and are willing to carefully learn and abide by their laws, you will be successful in your trade with the Ottomans. It is for this reason that the Venetians have been able to establish and maintain such longstanding commercial and diplomatic ties for so long—despite Turkish wars with other European states on many an occasion.

The Venetian’s guide to Jerusalem and the Ottoman Empire:

Part 1:

From an economic perspective, conducting trade in the Ottoman Empire would be a lucrative venture. Despite the recent conquest and fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans, it’s very possible to have a friendly and beneficial relationship. If you travel to Middle East regions such as Syria, official parties greet you at a special reception room (IMG_2462 MET). From there, one needs to request a treaty and trading rights from the Sultan. This is important because there have been cases of ships being detained due to lack of permits (Carroll, Labalme, and White 261). Fortunately, there has been tremendous contact between the Ottomans and the Venetians, making trade an easier prospect. Venice is now known as a key interface, connecting Europe to the Muslim World (Carboni, Kennedy, Marwell MET). Notably, trade with the Mamluks and Ottomans will help grow your business if you look into the silk, velvet, and porcelain markets. Like economics, it’s important to consider safety as a factor of your cost of business.

Travellers and merchants need to be advised of the dangerous Mediterranean; the swaths of pirates patrolling the waters. Piracy is a chief concern for merchants and their local counterparts. Historically, there have been discussions between the “doge and the Turkish ambassador of their mutual interest in pursuing and punishing pirates, whether Venetians preying on Turkish ships or vice Versa,” helped push for a trend of stability between the two partners (Carroll, Labalme, and White 205). The Ottomans cared for security and stability within their empire. As such, you could find nightly military patrols throughout the city (IMG_2463 MET). While one can rely on local security to an extent, it’s important to either use a guide or have some sort of map for your travels (IMG_2468 MET). Lastly, in conjunction with economic knowledge of the local region, and norms, understanding local religious life is essential to your success.

While there are many points of contact within the Ottoman Empire, this guide will focus on Jerusalem. Jerusalem is at the epicenter of multiple religions and cultures that can help diversify and successfully grow your business. In Jerusalem, one would find thousands of Christian pilgrims making their way to various holy sites. These pilgrims typically head to sites like the Holy Sepulchre as well as various other monasteries. While there are peaceful excursions, travelling merchants should be aware of the ever-present danger and economic repercussions from the Crusades. For example, Merchants like Marin Sanudo have attempted to persuade the Pope and other nobles to call for another crusade, something that could be detrimental to a merchant’s financial success while in the Middle East (IMG_2473 MET). While this is a risk, it’s also important to be aware of other religious communities within the Fatimid territory.

While Muslim leadership’s opinion of “infidels” may vary, they do have a generally open relationship with Venetian traders. It is very possible to have a successful relationship. For example, Gentile Bellini who was a Venetian artist, established a strong relationship with Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire, and helped bring a closer relationship between the two states while being heavily compensated (Carboni, Kennedy, and Marwell).

From an economic perspective, trade between Venice and the Ottoman Empire is highly recommended. The Ottoman Empire has equal interest in creating a healthy trade relationship where one can safely sell goods. Furthermore, the plethora of cultures clashed in Jerusalem can easily help one diversify their trade. Overall, it is a very lucrative time for merchants.

Part 2:

During my MoMa visit, I decided to see the “Arab Lands” section first. This allowed me to engage with the Middle East as a whole, before heading towards Jerusalem. I made a point to make the theme of my visit, “Merchants in the Middle East.” This theme allowed me to orient myself towards my blog assignment and help keep everything organized. I took pictures of the receiving room as well as artifacts that could be used for trade. For example, I took pictures of Persian carpets as well as pottery, which were part of a very lucrative trade. Once I finished, I proceeded to the Jerusalem exhibit.

The Jerusalem exhibit was actually quite wonderful. It showcased different religions and cultures that brought life to the city during the Middle Ages. What I found particularly interesting was the book involving Marin Sanudo, who urged for another Crusade. It brought to light how interconnected trade, conflict, and religion were for all groups involved.

Album Link: https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipN95dGXXPMWT-LtGJiJV0USehPB4lfymGLwcdyM

Works Cited

Carboni, Stefano, and Trinita Kennedy. “Venice and the Islamic World, 828–1797.” In

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of

Art, 2000–.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/vnis/hd_vnis.htm (March 2007)

Carboni, Stefano, and Trinita Kennedy. “Venice’s Principal Muslim Trading Partners:

the Mamluks, the Ottomans, and the Safavids.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art

History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/vmos/hd_vmos.htm (March 2007)

Carboni, Stefano, and Trinita Kennedy, and Elizabeth Marwell. “Commercial

Exchange, Diplomacy, and Religious Difference between Venice and the

Islamic World.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The

Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cedr/hd_cedr.htm (March 2007)

Sanudo, Marino, Patricia H. Labalme, and Laura Sanguineti White. Venice, Cità

Excelentissima: Selections from the Renaissance Diaries of Marin Sanudo.

Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2008. Print.

Hello my friend I am writing to you because I know you have a large task ahead of you. The Sultan has given you the title of ambassador, it is a great honor and god willing you deserve it. From my aides I hear that you are to stop in Venice and then be on your way through Western Europe to the city of Amsterdam. Now listen carefully as I guide you through this trip, this is very important brother. From Constantinople the boats will be waiting in the morning, I hope they have arranged for you to travel on a small merchant ship. The reason for this is because of the many Venetian and Turkish pirates, although I can’t say that our people are committing such crimes. Anyhow it has been demanded that when encountering a military vessel one must lower their sails or face capture. Once you reach Venice, I can only say that the countries beauty is only matched by their peoples hospitality. St. Marks square is the center of life, although second to only our great city and capital. They will treat you with excellence, invites to the grandest of events from the most extravagant of individuals. You must be sure to visit Basilica of St.Marco as it truly might be where one can have all the articles of gold and silver. But remember business comes first. The Mediterranean is important to our empire and although we would love to dominate and have it all to ourselves it is wiser to avoid conflict and find ays to benefit ourselves through trade. The North African lands have given us new opportunities to exploit advantages and open our trade routes. Also be aware of theses European infidels and I mean other foreigners. Last time I visited an incident occurred with a spaniard who stole some carpets and sheets from a personal representative of the pope. There was also a frenchman who was so ill-tempered and full of himself, it was ridiculous. As you leave Venice you will head north between Eastern and Western Europe. You must be careful for the Tartar raids that occur into Western Europe, they are chaotic and deadly. The pillaging of villages is very common so try and avoid these villages and heavily populated areas. The country of Tot has a large population of protestants who are cross worshippers. After that you have reached your destination, Holland. The country side has very fertile and productive lands and its cities can get very crowded. Just south of the Rhine is Amsterdam the capital. A huge walled city, even the outskirts of the city features some terrific gardens that allow all types of leaves and agriculture to grow. Even though you are on a business trip you should not take such wonders for granted. So few men in this world get to see the many tings you are about to see, concentrate all you have to on your important work and make our empire proud but I f I had to tell you one thing it would be to live so that you could never have any regrets.

During my walkthrough of the Arab lands section I noticed some very nice pieces. If I had to choose one in particular it would have to be the Ivory from Muslim Italy. These pieces come from the island of Sicily where commercial networks connected Sicily to North Africa and Europe. At the time the Normans controlled the island and had the advantage of being protected from both the Byzantine empire and Muslim forces. Trade plays a heavy part in this section. The Ottoman Empire established its maritime dominance in the Mediterranean, which allowed merchants to trade.

Arab Lands linkAlbum

The Jerusalem exhibit was probably my favorite of the two. Once again maritime travel and merchant seamen so well adapted to changing times and were so well prepared. There was one image I took of a huge book called ‘Map of the Holy Land’ which outlined how European Christians could navigate the port of Acre. Also showed where Noah’s ark was believed to have landed. Another good piece was the tools seamen used to travel. A map that showed the Levantine trade routes that showed Jerusalem halfway between Damascus and the port of Ascalon. The astrolobe could help travelers tell time, geography, and position of the stars easier as well.

Jerusalem link Album 2