Hazirlayanlar

504

HOŞGÖRÜ TOPLUMUNDA ERMENİLER

it was made to this purpose, that the Inhabitants of that Countrey, newly 

conquered by Alexander, should not lightly fl ie, nor their enemies easily 

invade them. This Citie is seated upon an high Hill, and builded all of 

Free-stone much after our buildings, being very high and thicke: never-

thelesse, it never grew great nor famous, and even in these dayes, there 

is no reckoning made of it: and the reason is, because of the situation, 

serving for passage onely out of Tartaria into Persia, and out of Persia into 

Tartaria, receiving those that travell too and fro, not as Merchants and men 

of Commerce, but as passengers and travellers; and to speake in a word, 

it is seated in a very necessary place, as the case standeth, by reason that 

it is Ports of the Caspian Sea, but not profi table unto it selfe: much like as 

it is in the passages of the Alpes, where though the French-men Switzers, 

Dutch-men, and Italians, continually doe passe by the; yet was there never 

found a meane citie, much lesse any citie of state and importance. The 

Citie Eres, most fruitfully watered with the River Araxis and cyrus, and 

hath yeelded in times past great store of those fi ne white Silkes, commonly 

termed by the Merchants Mamodean silkes, whereof at this day, there is 

not to be found, no not a very small quantitie, by reason of the monstrous 

ruines and overthrowes, that hath happened in thse Countries, partly by the 

Armies of the great Turke, and partly by the Armie of the Persians, which 

still had succeeded one another in their cruell incursions, and bloudie inva-

sions.”(41) 

Before the success of the Portuguese in India “had already begun to 

seriously affect the trade thence the Red sea and Persian gulf,” carried on 

by the Muslims between the cities of Calicut Cambay Ormuz and Aden, 

the produce of India was taken to Europe by Persian Gulf to Bussora, at 

the mouth of the Euphrates and then distributed by Caravan through Ar-

menia Trebizond, Tartary, Aleppo and Damascus (42) Broniovius says that 

“in Taurica or the Peninsula and its cities or towns there were very few 

merchants but some few practice mechanic crafts and some merchants 

and artifi cers are found these either Christian slaves or Turks, Armenians 

Jews circassians Ptigorens (which are christians) phytistins or cyngans, 

men of obscure or lowest degree.”(43) The contemptuous statement seems 

to have emanated from the prosperity of certain communities which were 

exclusively the benefi ciaries.Anthony the Armenian found in his times 

that “there were many rich and great cities in Armenia of which Tauris 

is the chief.While stressing that the Armenians did enjoy a special status 

in the Turkish Empire, Ibni Hauqal highly appreciated the handicrafts of 

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505

Prof. Mansure HAİDAR

Armenia, which, interestingly enough is included in the sphere of Islam 

He writes:

“In the sphere of Islam except Armenia which is the best and the most 

likable and lovable (bihtar o pasandidatar) place, none seems to be supe-

rior or could surpass them in excellence, none can equal them. The city 

of Taiyib is moderately good but varied kinds of clothes and gilims of 

black colour are manufactured there. Although white cotton cloth is made 

in other places also but none could surpass or equal those issued from 

the Armenia in its beauty excellence and its cheap prices. The gitim and 

curtains as well as different kinds of coulter, bolster, pillow and the like 

prepared in Armenia are sent in a huge quantity to Ghandjan.” The same 

chronicler notes that both the Dakhili and “Kharaji” Armenians were un-

der the Muslim rulers’ domination totally (ba kulli taht: badshahani Is-

lam”. The sovereignty of these regions was in the hands of Muslims. the 

road from Armenia went to Turkey-Rum through Trebizond where the 

merchants from Islamic countries fl ocked and had to go to Rum for an 

exit. At a time when Ibni Hauqal visited this country (dar zamani ma mali 

hangufti),the ruler was entitled to the tax or mal called hungufti accruing 

from the hanguft (cloth of a plain, equal or fi rm texture, bed counterpane 

quilted with cotton). The demand realized earlier is not known. Besides, 

most of the supplication and prsents to the rulers brought from Trebizond 

consisted diba, parcha, kalabatun duzi parchahai katani Rumi parchahai 

postini, pushakahaj Rumi. People in Nakhchivan, Khilat Badlis Qahqala, 

Arzan are prosperous mostly traders though they are said to be haughty 

and unkind to the poor. the other objects of presents comprised the silk, all 

kinds of household furniture, sheep, horses and other cattle, parchas, fl oor 

covers, inner breeches, drawers, belts are of high quality which is copied 

in entirely in salmas and its cost comes from one dinar to ten dinar and 

there is no comparison in excellence between the ones made in Armenia 

which surpassed others. the tushaks quilts, curtains which are found in Ma-

randd, Tabriz and Ankhakh have no parallels in other places. It is not made 

any where in such abundance and with such excellence and fi nesse. In the 

same way the veils embroidered with fi gures, napkins, handkerchief, bed 

clothes, towels which are made in Miyafariqin and other places in Armenia 

have a unique attraction.” (44)

Besides the Armenian trade also continued to fl ourish. In 1610, a re-

port of an Armenian detailed the rich merchandise which shows the mag-

nitude of its commercial potentialities though in the context of one single 

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