Treaty of Balta Liman

Quick Facts: Who was Treaty of Balta Liman?

Subject:

Treaty of Balta Liman

Known for:

1838 Anglo-Ottoman trade treaty establishing liberal market access for Great Britain.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The 1838 Treaty of Balta Liman, or the Anglo-Ottoman Treaty, was a formal trade agreement signed between the Sublime Porte of the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. The trade policies imposed upon the Ottoman Empire, after the Treaty of Balta Liman, were some of the most liberal, open market settlements that had ever been enacted. The terms of the treaty stated that the Ottoman Empire would abolish all monopolies and allow British merchants and their collaborators to have full access to all Ottoman markets and be taxed equally to local merchants.

Career & Major Achievements

These agreements did not constitute an equal free trade arrangement, as Britain still employed protectionist policies on their agricultural markets. Leading up to the Treaty of Balta Liman, in autumn 1831, the Governor of Egypt, Mehmed Ali, retaliated against the Ottoman Empire.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Mehmed Ali had not been given the territory that the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II had promised him after he provided military expertise in defeating Greek rebels in 1824. In response, Mehmed Ali's son, Ibrahim Pasha, led the Egyptian army to storm Lebanon and Syria, quickly defeating Ottoman forces.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1824: 1824 Milestone — Mehmed Ali had not been given the territory that the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II had promised him after he provided military expertise in defeating Greek rebels in 1824.
2. 1831: 1831 Milestone — Leading up to the Treaty of Balta Liman, in autumn 1831, the Governor of Egypt, Mehmed Ali, retaliated against the Ottoman Empire.
3. 1838: 1838 Milestone — The 1838 Treaty of Balta Liman, or the Anglo-Ottoman Treaty, was a formal trade agreement signed between the Sublime Porte of the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Treaty of Balta Liman

True or False: “True or false: The Treaty of Balta Liman stipulated that British merchants would be taxed exactly the same as local Ottoman merchants.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The treaty explicitly stated that British merchants were to be taxed equally to local merchants, a key provision for securing foreign trade access.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Treaty of Balta Liman