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'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [204] (213/568)
The record is made up of 1 volume (282 folios). It was created in 1918. It was written in English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
204
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Belgium's share in the trade of Mesopotamia was rapidly growing.
Belgian loaf-sugar dominated the markets of Baghdad and Basra
(it was carried to the Persian G-ulf by German ships), and had about
a quarter share in the Diarbekr market. Besides, Belgium sent iron,
copper, and candles.
France had recently lost to Belgium her former lead in the
Baghdad sugar trade. Her principal exports to Baghdad were
leather and drugs and medicines. To Diarbekr she sent hardware,
glassware, &c. She took a considerable part of the export of wool,
hides and skins.
Imports from Italy were mainly cheap cotton goods. Her trade
seems to have been mainly with northern Mesopotamia.
Russian timber had in 1918 almost driven Indian wood from the
Baghdad market. Russian oil had lost ground to American and
Persian in Irak, but apparently it still held a predominant share in
the market of Diarbekr.
Sweden supplied nearly the whole import of matches.
The United States sent very little besides oil, and, though
American petroleum had won the lead from Russian in southern
Mesopotamia, it seemed likely to yield in its turn to the product of
the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's field in Arabistan. In exports the
United States took a o large share of the Shatt el-'Arab dates and
practically all the Mesopotamian liquorice. Most of the Persian
carpets which passed through the Baghdad markets went to
America.
Japan had hardly any trade in Mesopotamia before the war, but it
was stated in 1917 that 'the markets in Mesopotamia are already
flooded with cheap Japanese glassware, matches, cutlery, copper,
metal sheets, and some kinds of piece-goods, especially what is
known as American sheeting'.
China took Persian opium shipped from Basra, and sent silk to
Baghdad.
Egypt took camels and sheep from Mosul and Diarbekr, dates
from Irak, and some silk goods manufactured at Baghdad.
The most interesting element in the situation before the war was
the politico-commercial intrigue that was being carried on by Ger
many in Irak and Arabistan. The German plan to dominate and
exploit the Turkish Empire included the intention to clear away the
zone of British influence at the head of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
. When
the prospects of a German railway to Baghdad seemed assured, German
diplomacy set to work, on the one hand to obtain the right to estab
lish a German-controlled railway from Baghdad to the Gulf, and on
About this item
- Content
This volume is A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Naval Staff, Intelligence Department: November 1918). This is an updated and expanded edition of A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume I, General (Admiralty War Staff, Intelligence Department: August 1916) (IOR/L/MIL17/15/41/1). This is an introductory volume containing matter of a general nature giving an account of conditions in Mesopotamia, for the most part as they were before the First World War.
The volume includes a note on official use, a title page and 'Note'. There is a page of 'Contents' that includes the following chapters and sections:
- Chapter 1: Boundaries and Physical Features;
- Chapter 2: Climate;
- Chapter 3: Minerals;
- Chapter 4: Fauna and Flora;
- Chapter 5: Hygiene;
- Chapter 6: History;
- Chapter 7: Inhabitants;
- Chapter 8: Religions;
- Chapter 9: Administration;
- Chapter 10: Irrigation of Irak [Iraq];
- Chapter 11: Agriculture and Land Tenure;
- Chapter 12: Commerce and Industry;
- Chapter 13: Currency, Weights, and Measures;
- Chapter 14: Communications and Transport;
- Vocabularies;
- Index.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (282 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged in numbered chapters. There is a contents page and an alphabetically arranged index.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of the folio.
Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and Syriac in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/41/2
- Title
- 'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1:556, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence