CAMEL AND TURKMAN CAMEL DRIVERS IN OTTOMAN LAND TRANSPORTATION

Ottoman nomads cannot be described as group of people who were totally stranger to sedentary life style or those against it. On the contrary, they were in mutual and constant relationship with the residents of towns and cities, particularly in trading activities. Tradesmen used to obtain pack animals from the nomads for the caravans operating both within the empire and in international trade and this formed the professionally operating part of the relationship between the settled people and nomads. As Turkman and Yoruk groups had a great number of camels and they created some transport rules, they dominated the trading transmit transport to such a level that transportation sector was almost totally in their control. For the Ottoman government, these nomads were not only a rich source of tax. Like other subjects of the empire, they also produced the goods and services demanded by the central government depending on their location and expertise. Especially in the transportation operations carried out by the demand of the state, these nomads were the first to be appealed by the rulers. Without these Turkman camel drivers, it was almost impossible to carry forest, mineral and salt products, the cereals necessary for the consumption of city residents, and particularly the military cargo of the army on expedition. In this respect, Ottoman Army was dependent on the nomadic cameleers in terms of logistics and transportation services. A great part of the state transport was conducted by these tribes and this formed the important part of the relationship between Ottoman Government and tribes. The main subject of this article is the activities of the nomads in the field of transportation. In this study, which aims to determine the role of Turkman nomads in Ottoman trading and formal transport, the effects of land transport on the shaping of the relationship between settled people, nomads and Ottoman government were tried to be evaluated. This mutual relationship was tried to be explained on the basis of similarities and differences in transport services conducted by the nomads for tradesmen and the government in return for money