As a result of the rapid development of capitalism in Western Europe after the 16th century, the European possessions of the Ottoman Empire were gradually involved in active trade relations with the advanced Western states. This speeded up the development of the new capitalist relations in the Empire. A deep crisis set in in the despotic Turkish feudal system.
The numerous Bulgarian artisans mended their finances and gradually expanded their production. Comparatively large-scale workshops mushroomed, and in 1834 Dobri Zhelyazkov built in Sliven the first Bulgarian factory – a factory for woollen fabrics. Alongside the great number of representatives of West-European firms, a large group of rich Bulgarian tradesmen appeared, who had offices in the largest East and Central European trade centres. The annual trade fairs in Sliven and Ouzoundjovo attracted businessmen not only from the Ottoman Empire, but from all over Europe.
The early 18th century marked a patriotic upsurge amid the well-to-do strata of the Bulgarian population, which is characteristic of the birth of every modern nation. Tradesmen, artisans and the municipalities started making generous presents to churches and monasteries. The big Bulgarian monasteries, above all the ones in Mount Athos on the Chalcidice Peninsula, attracted large numbers of pilgrims and donors from all over Bulgaria. Their contacts and meetings consolidated their patriotic feelings and confidence in the strength and possibilities of the Bulgarian nation.
The development of the productive forces and the national upsurge, however, collided with the enormous obstacles placed in their way by the despotic feudal system of the Ottoman Empire. By the early 18th century the Empire was already decaying and this decay could not be stopped by any means, so that at the end of the century real chaos reigned in it. The Bulgarian lands became an arena of violent clashes between the army of the Sultan and the troops of the insubordinate local feudal lords. The ravages caused by the internecine wars were worsened by the outrages of the kurdjalis — Turkish bandits who were rampant all over the country leaving behind them desolation and death.
The government of the Sultan introduced a number of reforms, including an agrarian one, but instead of alleviating the lot of the Bulgarian population they made still heavier their burden of taxes and their harassments on the part of the local Turkish feudal lords and administrators. Even for the smallest services, the corrupt Ottoman officials took large bribes, invaded the homes of the Bulgarians at any time of the day and night, eating and drinking their fill and then demanding payment for having blunted their teeth (dish-haki – tooth tax), committed out-rages, raped Bulgarian girls and women.
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