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Shadow Trade: Unraveling Maritime Smuggling Between the Russian and Ottoman Empires (1853-1914).

Project description

Hidden maritime networks of the Russian and Ottoman Empires

The 19th and early 20th centuries marked a transformative era for the Russian and Ottoman Empires, two key players in Eastern European geopolitics. Amid globalisation and the shift from sail to steam, clandestine trade thrived along the Black Sea, Azov Sea and Southeastern Mediterranean. In this context, the EU-funded STASH project delves into the shadowy world of maritime smuggling during 1853–1914, uncovering illicit networks that moved goods and people across these regions. Reviewing unpublished archives, a multidisciplinary team from five countries aims to map smuggling routes, explore production and destination hubs, and reveal transportation methods. By reframing inter-imperial relations through the lens of illegal trade, STASH enriches our understanding of the Eastern Question and modern European history.

Objective

STASH deals with the history of maritime smuggling between port cities of the Russian and Ottoman Empires during the transformative period 1853 to 1914, focusing on three maritime regions the Black Sea, the Azov Sea, and the Southeastern Mediterranean.
The two empires, at the core of the Eastern Question, occupied a central position in European economic, social, and political upheavals. Within the context of the ongoing shifts between two empires and the development of legal trade relations in an era marked by intensified globalization and the transition from sail to steam, this project aims to shed light on aspects of illegal trade relations, an underexplored area of study. Specifically, we will comprehensively analyse various facets of the smuggling of both goods and people within the established trade routes and networks. The study will examine the macrostructure of the smuggling linkages, focusing on the hinterland of production/origin of clandestine trade and the foreland, the destination of material and human cargoes. It aims to identify the main nodes of export and import and the means of transportation.
The research team comprises a PI, three senior researchers, six post-doctoral researchers, and two PhD candidates from Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Italy, and Greece. They will utilize unpublished archival sources to produce two collective volumes, numerous articles, two PhD dissertations, organize four workshops, and an international conference, create an archival and bibliographical corpus, and produce a documentary film.
The project aims to advance our knowledge of inter-imperial relations beyond conventional geopolitical approaches. Understanding how these two neighbouring powers navigated their shadow relations adds depth to our comprehension of the broader Eastern European economic, social, and political relations and introduces new layers to our appreciation of the regions modern history.

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(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG

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Host institution

IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS
Net EU contribution

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€ 1 490 250,00
Address
N PLASTIRA STR 100
700 13 IRAKLEIO
Greece

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Νησιά Αιγαίου Κρήτη Ηράκλειο
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Total cost

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€ 1 490 250,00

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