Ricerc@Sapienza

From the 13th to the 15th century cosmopolitism of the Ottoman and Safavid empires was decreasing. At the same time the European powers began looking at Middle Eastern markets for economic opportunities. They saw multicultural Islamic empires as trade and political partners to increase the importation from Balkans and the Silk Road. The permanent political and economic competition between the Safavid Persia and the Ottoman Empire reflects the process of progressive dissolvement of the homogeneous identity of the Dar al-Islam and the consolidation of the supranational state models. European Countries tried to build alliances with the two main relevant Islamic empires. In this perspective the Mediterranean preserved its central strategic and economic role but the complexity of the rivalry between Safavids and Ottomans and the diplomatic cooperation between them and Christian Europe can be understood only if we consider the peculiarities of the areas of cross-cultural exchanges: the Balkans, Caucasus and Persian Gulf. The Silk Road preserved his role of supply chain during the early modern period. Throughout this large area of exchange TOT process (Transfer of technology), identity syncretism, cross-cultural trade flourished. Ethnic and religious minorities played an important role in this expansion of international exchanges by establishing networks of communication and trade in separate markets. The multicultural nature of the market allowed the Republic of Venice, the Republic of Ragusa, the Ottoman Empire, and Safavid Empire to share technology and expand long-distance trade. The social and commercial networks encompassed the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Safavid Iran, all major powers of the area-the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid Empires, the Republic of Ragusa and the Republic of Venice-, and they involved individuals belonging to five major religious groups (Catholic and Orthodox Christians, Jews of different congregation, and Sunni and Shiite Muslims).