PREREQUISITES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN BULGARIAN LANDS DURING THE 17TH – 19TH CENTURIES Cover Image

ПРЕДПОСТАВКИ ЗА РАЗВИТИЕ НА ТЮТЮНЕВИЯ ОТРАСЪЛ В БЪЛГАРСКИТЕ ЗЕМИ ПРЕЗ ХVІІ–ХІХ ВЕК
PREREQUISITES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY IN BULGARIAN LANDS DURING THE 17TH – 19TH CENTURIES

Author(s): Valentin Kitanov
Subject(s): History, Economy, National Economy, Micro-Economics, Comparative history, Economic history, Local History / Microhistory, Social history, Modern Age, Public Finances, Marketing / Advertising, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: Център за стопанско-исторически изследвания
Keywords: tobacco; tobacco farmers; tobacco region; Ottoman Empire; Bulgarian lands; soil characteristics; legal and regulatory framework

Summary/Abstract: During the 17th–19th century, tobacco production and trade was not onlya major component for the Ottoman economy – the development of the tobacco industry significantly shaped the economic and social structure of a number of regions thatwere under the Ottoman rule. The pace and scope of development of tobacco production in the Bulgarian lands were influenced by a wide range of factors. In their entirety,these factors predetermined the position and role individual regions had in the development of the tobacco industry. This led to a situation where quantity, volume and socialimportance of tobacco production had different weight in individual settlements or regions, and this interdependence was sustained throughout the entire period of Ottomanrule in the Bulgarian region. Main prerequisites that predetermined the developmentof the tobacco industry as a whole were the natural, human and state factors. Theywere most lasting and central for the development of the tobacco industry and its longevity in a historical perspective. Based on many years of experience, the agriculturalpopulation in Bulgaria had an excellent knowledge of the soil and climatic conditionsin their region and during the 17th-19th century they were able to adapt and cultivateoriental types of tobacco accordingly. Beside the natural, human, social, legislativeand cultural prerequisites, there are a number of other factors that helped shape thedifferent characteristics of the tobacco industry in the Bulgarian region. For example,the provision of quality tobacco seeds, the presence or absence of encroachments ontobacco, natural disasters, the disposal of funds to support tobacco production, etc.The combination of several or of all these prerequisites laid the foundation for thesuccessful development of tobacco production in the Bulgarian region and the abilityto turn it into a major economic branch with an important role for the financial, socialand international politics in Bulgaria after the end of the Ottoman period and duringthe twentieth century

  • Issue Year: VIII/2023
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 35-44
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Bulgarian