Post by Sublime Porte on Oct 3, 2016 15:28:49 GMT
Financial Reforms
The Imperial Ottoman Bank - Bank-ı Osmanî-i Şahane
Following the example set by Sweden, and followed by England and Russia, an Ottoman Central Bank has been established in Istanbul, with officials from the Riksbank of Sweden acting as the first Governor of the Bank and the core of its board. The board includes members of all millets providing they can prove their financial acumen and education; a number of Turks educated at the Palace school, some Armenians, and a few Jews and many Jewish converts (or supposed converts) to Islam.
Together with the founding of the bank, official Dutch-inspired Government Bonds are to be established and issued. The bank is to be founded with 50,000 ducats of funding from the Sublime Porte, and will also pioneer the use of shareholders in the Ottoman Empire, though the government will always hold a majority stake.
Regulation of Coinage
The Ottoman Kuruş, the silver coin, is to become the principal unit of currency, and efforts are made to prevent forgery and clipping. Markings on the sides of coins, and more complex relief inscriptions are added, including a depiction of the Star and Crescent or an image of the Sublime Porte, the gate of the Palace. Careful measures are still taken to avoid representations of people or animals, to prevent unnecessarily offending conservative opinion. There will be fixed rules on minting and silver-content. Similar rules are applied to the subdivision of the coinage, Para, although these are less strict due to its relative lack of importance to the modern economy.
Abolition of Tax Farming
The headline act: the abolition of the hated tax farming practices. In place of tax farming, a new corps of specially-trained and salaried tax officials will be responsible for taxation. The scheme is to commence in Rumelia in 1705, and expand to include Anatolia in 1706. The Arabic parts of the empire will continue to be taxed by their regional governors, or Beylerbeys, but if the scheme is sufficiently successful then regional subdivisions of the tax authority will be instituted across the empire. The Revenue Department will be headed by the Defterdar, who will be given two additional lesser defterdarler in order to aide his expanded work. Expenses are to be deducted from this year's tax revenues, and not the treasury. Up to 50,000 Ducats will be allocated in the budget, per annum, for the initial two years.
Deregulation of Lending
Muslim shareholders and bank officials are now exempt from any religious laws prohibiting usury, since it is interpreted that they are not acting as an individual, but it is the bank committing usury. The Sheikh-ül-Islam has signed off on this reform, issuing a fatwa to the effect, though it is necessary that all banks offering personal banking services in the Ottoman Empire provide the option of Shariah-compliant services. Commercial banking and loans are not required to follow this requirement. Any offences relating to finance between parties of different Millets will be mediated by the Kasaskers.
Reduction in Tariffs
Tariffs are to be reduced from 1705 onwards in an attempt to reinvigorate production in the Ottoman Empire.
Civic and Military
Swedish Military Academy
When Ibrahim Pasha visited France, and saw the modernisation of that Kingdom, he wondered: "Why do Christian nations, which were so weak in the past compared to Moslem nations, begin to dominate so many lands in modern times and even defeat the once victorious Ottoman armies?" The answer he himself came to was that Moslems should awaken from their slumber of heedlessness and: "Let them be informed of the conditions of their enemies. Let them act with foresight and become intimately acquainted with new European methods, organization, strategy, tactics and warfare." Let them widen their military and political horizons by the study of geography, also of science and navigation by naval charts, such has allowed the Christians mastery of the New World and to the conquest of Moslem lands. Let them learn lessons in particular from their neighbours, the Russians, whose Tsar had "sought and brought experts skilled in these sciences from other countries and reformed his armies by heeding their counsels, recommendations and assistance."*
In accordance with this, therefore, a Swedish Military Academy is opened in Galata, near the Palace School, for the education of Janissary Officers, artillerymen and grenadiers, as well as naval officers. Whatever the Swedes provide to pay for this college, the Sublime Porte will match.
*Quotes and references from Lord Kinross' book: 'The Ottoman Centuries'.
Lâle Devri - the Tulip Period
The Sultan Ahmet III is fond of culture and the arts, and is introducing new innovations into Ottoman architecture and art. The much beloved Tulip has become a fashionable item and now symbolises the entire blossoming of art and culture in Turkey. Ahmet III's constructions have already introduced interesting cultural blends, taking increasing inspiration from western designs, while simultaneously adopting an increasing eastern aesthetic, inspired by both Paris and Isfahan. Turkish poetry is beginning to shed its Persian clothing, and emerging confident in its own identity. The poet Nedim in particular is receiving court favour, as is the skilled miniature painter Abdulcelil Levni is also patronised. While the Ottoman court adopts some Frankish methods, arts and innovations, it is rumoured that Paris is developing its own love of turquerie. The rise of 'Cities of Pleasure' on the Sweet Waters of Asia have helped foster the image of Turkey as a mysterious land of carnal delights, smokey mysticism, dusky maidens and delicious sweets, and the image of the Tulip has caught on. The tile manufactories of Iznik have been reinvigorated, adopting the new symbolism into its creations. The trend is awfully decadent and not as militaristic and pure as many conservatives may prefer, but should bring great prosperity so long as the hawks are pandyed to with demonstrable foreign activity.
The Printing Press of Ibrahim Muteferrika
Ibrahim Muteferrika, a Hungarian convert to Islam, has opened the first Turkish-language Printing Press in Istanbul. Despite having over two hundred years of lively printing, it had previously been restricted to the languages of subject peoples. Following authorisation from the Sheikh-ul-Islam it is now possible to print in Turkish, Persian and Arabic, although it is still forbidden to print the Koran or any other sacred texts. Nevertheless, the Sheikh-ul-Islam Efendi has signed off on permission for all secular works to be printed instead of painstakingly hand-written and decorated. A great number of dictionaries and books on the sciences have already been pumped out and distributed, and many more printing presses are expected to open to meet demand for the now much more affordable books it is producing.
The Translation House
10,000 ductas is provided to establish a library for collecting western and far-eastern texts to be translated by enthusiasts, academics and foreigners. The centre will teach Turkish to Turcophiles in return for a few years of assistive work, and a few relentless academics are expected to churn through the translation of a few books a year. Books on the art of war, science and practical arts are prioritised, but facilities are available for the free use of enthusiasts, so those that work for free may choose to translate anything, even novels and political works. These translations will then be available for print in Turkish, so long as they do not include Christian or Jewish holy books and texts. Despite the Christians themselves being okay with it, the Sublime Porte would be uncomfortable with printing the holy word. Even outdated works worshipping the one true God are considered above the indignity of printing.
The Imperial Ottoman Bank - Bank-ı Osmanî-i Şahane
Following the example set by Sweden, and followed by England and Russia, an Ottoman Central Bank has been established in Istanbul, with officials from the Riksbank of Sweden acting as the first Governor of the Bank and the core of its board. The board includes members of all millets providing they can prove their financial acumen and education; a number of Turks educated at the Palace school, some Armenians, and a few Jews and many Jewish converts (or supposed converts) to Islam.
Together with the founding of the bank, official Dutch-inspired Government Bonds are to be established and issued. The bank is to be founded with 50,000 ducats of funding from the Sublime Porte, and will also pioneer the use of shareholders in the Ottoman Empire, though the government will always hold a majority stake.
Regulation of Coinage
The Ottoman Kuruş, the silver coin, is to become the principal unit of currency, and efforts are made to prevent forgery and clipping. Markings on the sides of coins, and more complex relief inscriptions are added, including a depiction of the Star and Crescent or an image of the Sublime Porte, the gate of the Palace. Careful measures are still taken to avoid representations of people or animals, to prevent unnecessarily offending conservative opinion. There will be fixed rules on minting and silver-content. Similar rules are applied to the subdivision of the coinage, Para, although these are less strict due to its relative lack of importance to the modern economy.
Abolition of Tax Farming
The headline act: the abolition of the hated tax farming practices. In place of tax farming, a new corps of specially-trained and salaried tax officials will be responsible for taxation. The scheme is to commence in Rumelia in 1705, and expand to include Anatolia in 1706. The Arabic parts of the empire will continue to be taxed by their regional governors, or Beylerbeys, but if the scheme is sufficiently successful then regional subdivisions of the tax authority will be instituted across the empire. The Revenue Department will be headed by the Defterdar, who will be given two additional lesser defterdarler in order to aide his expanded work. Expenses are to be deducted from this year's tax revenues, and not the treasury. Up to 50,000 Ducats will be allocated in the budget, per annum, for the initial two years.
Deregulation of Lending
Muslim shareholders and bank officials are now exempt from any religious laws prohibiting usury, since it is interpreted that they are not acting as an individual, but it is the bank committing usury. The Sheikh-ül-Islam has signed off on this reform, issuing a fatwa to the effect, though it is necessary that all banks offering personal banking services in the Ottoman Empire provide the option of Shariah-compliant services. Commercial banking and loans are not required to follow this requirement. Any offences relating to finance between parties of different Millets will be mediated by the Kasaskers.
Reduction in Tariffs
Tariffs are to be reduced from 1705 onwards in an attempt to reinvigorate production in the Ottoman Empire.
Civic and Military
Swedish Military Academy
When Ibrahim Pasha visited France, and saw the modernisation of that Kingdom, he wondered: "Why do Christian nations, which were so weak in the past compared to Moslem nations, begin to dominate so many lands in modern times and even defeat the once victorious Ottoman armies?" The answer he himself came to was that Moslems should awaken from their slumber of heedlessness and: "Let them be informed of the conditions of their enemies. Let them act with foresight and become intimately acquainted with new European methods, organization, strategy, tactics and warfare." Let them widen their military and political horizons by the study of geography, also of science and navigation by naval charts, such has allowed the Christians mastery of the New World and to the conquest of Moslem lands. Let them learn lessons in particular from their neighbours, the Russians, whose Tsar had "sought and brought experts skilled in these sciences from other countries and reformed his armies by heeding their counsels, recommendations and assistance."*
In accordance with this, therefore, a Swedish Military Academy is opened in Galata, near the Palace School, for the education of Janissary Officers, artillerymen and grenadiers, as well as naval officers. Whatever the Swedes provide to pay for this college, the Sublime Porte will match.
*Quotes and references from Lord Kinross' book: 'The Ottoman Centuries'.
Lâle Devri - the Tulip Period
The Sultan Ahmet III is fond of culture and the arts, and is introducing new innovations into Ottoman architecture and art. The much beloved Tulip has become a fashionable item and now symbolises the entire blossoming of art and culture in Turkey. Ahmet III's constructions have already introduced interesting cultural blends, taking increasing inspiration from western designs, while simultaneously adopting an increasing eastern aesthetic, inspired by both Paris and Isfahan. Turkish poetry is beginning to shed its Persian clothing, and emerging confident in its own identity. The poet Nedim in particular is receiving court favour, as is the skilled miniature painter Abdulcelil Levni is also patronised. While the Ottoman court adopts some Frankish methods, arts and innovations, it is rumoured that Paris is developing its own love of turquerie. The rise of 'Cities of Pleasure' on the Sweet Waters of Asia have helped foster the image of Turkey as a mysterious land of carnal delights, smokey mysticism, dusky maidens and delicious sweets, and the image of the Tulip has caught on. The tile manufactories of Iznik have been reinvigorated, adopting the new symbolism into its creations. The trend is awfully decadent and not as militaristic and pure as many conservatives may prefer, but should bring great prosperity so long as the hawks are pandyed to with demonstrable foreign activity.
The Printing Press of Ibrahim Muteferrika
Ibrahim Muteferrika, a Hungarian convert to Islam, has opened the first Turkish-language Printing Press in Istanbul. Despite having over two hundred years of lively printing, it had previously been restricted to the languages of subject peoples. Following authorisation from the Sheikh-ul-Islam it is now possible to print in Turkish, Persian and Arabic, although it is still forbidden to print the Koran or any other sacred texts. Nevertheless, the Sheikh-ul-Islam Efendi has signed off on permission for all secular works to be printed instead of painstakingly hand-written and decorated. A great number of dictionaries and books on the sciences have already been pumped out and distributed, and many more printing presses are expected to open to meet demand for the now much more affordable books it is producing.
The Translation House
10,000 ductas is provided to establish a library for collecting western and far-eastern texts to be translated by enthusiasts, academics and foreigners. The centre will teach Turkish to Turcophiles in return for a few years of assistive work, and a few relentless academics are expected to churn through the translation of a few books a year. Books on the art of war, science and practical arts are prioritised, but facilities are available for the free use of enthusiasts, so those that work for free may choose to translate anything, even novels and political works. These translations will then be available for print in Turkish, so long as they do not include Christian or Jewish holy books and texts. Despite the Christians themselves being okay with it, the Sublime Porte would be uncomfortable with printing the holy word. Even outdated works worshipping the one true God are considered above the indignity of printing.
