Author(s): Özgür YILMAZ
The Black Sea, being situated in an important geographical area, attracted a lot of countries and from the early period of history, significant commercial activities took place in this region. Though it is an inner lake, the Black Sea has been a region which can especially be controlled by the states which have the sovereignty over the Dardanelles and the Bosporus. However, from the Greek colonies to the imperialist powers of the 19 th century, this region have been a scene of the political and commercial interest of the other states such as the great European powers. The foundation of the Ottoman Empire and being of the great power of the Near East, including the Black Sea, effected the position of the Black Sea and after the conquests made by Mehmed the Conqueror and Bayezid II, the Black Sea became a Turkish Lake. This situation continued to the end of the 18 th century and after the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca the Ottomans lost their sovereignty over the sea. From this time, expansion of the Russian political and commercial activities and of European trade contributed to importance of the Black Sea, henceforth, this sea was became an area in which the great powers’ economical and political struggles took place. The Black Sea port cities were affected by this new event and showed great economical development as in the case of Trabzon.
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