Issue 36 2023 - Journal - Page 59
Ottomans in the 1851
Great Exhibition in London
by Özgür Ceren Can and, Safa M. Özütürk
The Great Exhibition of 1851 was an important moment
of industrial awakening and cultural encounter for the
Ottomans. At the same time, the British improved their
understanding and knowledge of the raw materials of the
Ottoman lands, the value of Ottoman handicrafts, the
economic potential and the industrial needs of the
Ottoman Empire. One of the most important areas where
this improvement towards the Ottomans can be seen was
the British newspapers. The presentation of the Ottoman
participation in the Great Exhibition in the British print
media gives us clues regarding the diplomatic, commercial
and cultural relations between the two states. During the
Great Exhibition, the British journalists that were covering the Ottoman delegation reported their various observations that ranged from styles of diplomacy to the
gestures of Ottomans in great detail. These news are also
noteworthy since they reflect the Western image of the
‘Ottoman’.
fundamental focus was on constructing an exhibition
strategy that was going to highlight the country’s progress
in international level industrial production as well as its
pioneer position. Moreover, the raw materials and products from the colonies were also promoted. The exhibition
also provided ground for the discovery of suitable raw
materials and markets in foreign lands and to learn from
the industrial experiences of participating countries.
The Ottoman commercial culture, similar to the European one, also developed several commercial exhibition
forms that ranged from small-scale local markets to
crowded regional fairs. These forms date back to the
Seljuq period. The biggest fairs were seasonal and attended by the European merchants and merchants from
the Black Sea region. (from city states such as Venice,
Genova, Naples and Pisa and Byzantian, Russian and
Qipchaq merchants). Yabunlu, Yılgun and Uzuncabad
Hasköy bazaars can be noted as examples of this exhibition
form wherein we can trace the Central Asian, Iranian and
Byzantian traditions. In the Ottoman period, these
bazaars and fairs were an important part of the commercial life and they were organized annually or sometimes a
few times a year.
The nineteenth-century exhibitions, which aimed to
promote commercial, industrial, agricultural, military and
cultural (arts, crafts, performances, etc.) products have a
long history. By 1844, there were already two important
national exhibitions (Paris and Berlin) in continental
Europe. The idea for an international exhibition in Britain
was born and Prince Albert and his company started to
organize it. Britain’s primary objective in organizing the
Great Exhibition is to liven up commercial and industrial
life. By rewarding the quality products in the exhibition,
Britain tried to encourage the producers, create competition among them and as such to facilitate further development of industrial skills and production. So the
Britain’s priority in the Ottoman-British relations in the
first half of the nineteenth century was to safeguard the
commercial route to the colonies. Therefore, the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire was vital for the
British. Britain kept friendly relations with the Ottoman
Empire so that it could protect the route which ensured
the arrival of the raw materials and the supply of the
Below, The Crystal Palace and Its Contents
i
i
Conservation & Heritage Journal
57
