Trabzon

Trabzon, a city with around 800,000 residents, is located on the Black Sea coast in northeastern Turkey and functions as the capital of Trabzon Province. Originally Trebizond, this ancient city boasts a rich and varied legacy spanning millennia. Tucked down the historic Silk Road, Trabzon developed into a dynamic mix of religions, languages, and cultures while also serving as a vital trade hub to Persia in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast.

The city’s natural harbor and strategic location attracted traders from all around. During the Middle Ages, Venetian and Genoese traders routinely visited Trabzon to trade woolen fabrics, silk, and linen. With the Genoese building Leonkastron and the Venetians occupying the former Venetian castle, these Italian maritime powers set up merchant colonies within the city. Like Galata in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), these enclaves were important commercial centers and cultural links between East and West in Trabzon.

Trabzon has been the basis of several states and political entities over its long and legendary past. Most famously, from 1204 until 1461, it was the capital of the Empire of Trebizond. Founded following the Fourth Crusade, this empire was one of the successor governments to the Byzantine Empire and kept its independence for more than two and a half centuries. Trabzon became a center of art, culture, and business during this time, transforming the history of the area.

Trabzon’s importance as a port city grew as the early modern era dawned. Once more, its strategic location on the Black Sea coast brings it to the forefront as the hub for trade with the Caucasus and Persia. The port facilities and developed trade routes made it an indispensable link in the chain of business linking Europe with the east.

With an administrative center in the city, Trabzon Province covers 4,685 square kilometers (1,509 square miles). Its borders run with Rize, Giresun, and Gümüşhane. The province’s topography is distinguished by its varied terrain; 22.4% of the land is composed of plateaus, and the remaining 77.6% is hill-dominated. The Pontic Mountains span the province, accentuating its natural beauty and affecting its ecology and climate.

It is impossible to overestimate the city’s significance as a marine monument. For navigators negotiating the sometimes dangerous Black Sea, Trabzon was an indispensable reference point. Its influence led to the creation of the Italian phrase, “perdere la Trebisonda” (“losing Trebizond“), describing circumstances where one loses direction. This linguistic legacy reflects Trabzon’s ongoing influence on Mediterranean marine life and its role in the maritime customs of Italian republics like Venice and Genoa.

Trabzon’s four gorgeous lakes—Uzungöl, Çakırgöl, Sera, and Haldizen—add to its natural allure. The province, while crossed by many streams, lacks significant rivers, which has uniquely shaped its ecology and agriculture.

By the early 20th century, Trabzon had solidified its ranking as the most significant Turkish port on the Black Sea. Its commercial influence extended to Tabriz in Iran and Mosul in Iraq. During this time, the city’s infrastructure developed, with a mole and a longer pier enabling more efficient cargo operations.

Early in the 20th century, Trabzon had a diverse economy, known for leather tanning, silver filigree work, and linen manufacture. It also produced small quantities of wool, silk, and cotton, though its main exports were hazelnuts and tobacco. The region’s tobacco, Trebizond-Platana, was especially prized for its large leaves and vibrant color.

Trabzon’s agricultural output varied, but it was famous for a specific type of white green bean that sold well in European markets. Poultry farming and sericulture (silk farming) were other significant activities before 1914.