Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ADALYA, cilt.22, ss.381-400, 2019 (AHCI)
In Anatolia's geography its coastal regions with forest cover extending from the coast to the mountains, has provided its richness to civilizations. From the mountains to the coast the numerous rivers and streams and the proximity of forest cover to the rivers and coast were among the significant factors facilitating the supply and transportation of timber. However, as these factors facilitated timber supply and transportation, they also facilitated all kinds of smuggling activities. When the central control of the Ottoman State declined, control over the long coastline from the land became more difficult. Settlements on the coast were few, and smugglers could easily reach, fell and transport of any kind of timber with their local collaborators. It was not only the physical conditions on the coast that increased the smuggling of timber. It is also necessary to consider the nearby islands of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas as for the inhabitants of the islands where the natural resources were scarce or inadequate, all kinds of smuggling-looting activity were quite risk-free, profitable branches of business. After the Greek Independence, with the increase in the construction of vessels on these islands, Greek shipping centers demand for timber increased and with it timber smuggling from Anatolia. The Ottoman government wanted to take tighter measures, but did not succeed in preventing the smuggling of timber to the islands.