Page 7 - Journal of Asian History_Neat

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SALlH OZBARAN
(University of Istanbul)

THE OTTOMAN TURKS AND THE PORTUGUESE

IN THE PERSIAN GULF, 1534- 1581.*

Thero were Ln the sixteenth century two great powers which came to
have an interest in the affairs of the Persian Gulf. Of these powers the
first was Portugal. The Portuguese reached western India at tho end of
the fifteenth century and established themselves at various strategic
points around the Indian Ocean, seeking to dominate the ancient
trade which ran from India through the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf
to the Mediterranean world. The second power, the Ottoman Turks,
conquered Egypt in 1517 and took control of the Red Sea. Towards
the middle of the sixteenth century, during the reign of Suleyman the
Magnificent, they conquered Baghdad and made contact with the
Persian Gulf.

THE COMING OF THE PORTUGUESE TO THE
PERSLAN GULF

The motives which led the Portuguese to undertake such a great
adventure are various. The economic factor, i.e., the search for the
Guinea gold and for spices, the crusading zeal inherited from their past
history, and the quest for the legendary Prester John, are some of the

* This article is the summary of a thoais presented for the degree of Ph.D.
in the University of London in Octobor 1969. The work was carried out under
the supervision of Mr. V. J. Parry. I am groatly indebted to Mr. Parry whose
unceasing encouragement and untiring guidance wore always of exceptional
value to me. I am also very grateful to Professor C.R. Boxer of Yale University
for his moat enlightening comments, to the staff of the Turkish State Archives
and of the Torre do Tombo of Lisbon for their kind co-operation. Lastly, my
sincere thanks are due to the Gulbonkian Foundation which enabled me to carry
out my research in Lisbon.

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