The Economic History of the Bulgarians in the Ottoman Empire (15th – early 20th Centuries) – Ideas for Periodization and Research Perspectives

The chapter proposes a concept for the economic history periodization of the Bulgarians in the Ottoman empire (15th –20th centuries), made on the basis of the main economic growth factors: the growth of the productivity of labour and capital; technical progress, a consequence of the Industrial Revolution achievements, of the development of knowledge, science and education; the human capital; the emergence of modern institutions, stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit of the population and innovation. In an attempt to substantiate the main periods through which the economic development of the Bulgarians passed through the era have been observed the periodizations already made of the history of the Ottoman empire and of Bulgarian history in the 15th –20th centuries. Considering the presence or absence of the above-mentioned factors we can fix one main internal border – the beginning of the 19th century. It distinguishes two separate periods in the Bulgarian economic history during the Ottoman rule, respectively: 15th – 18th centuries and 19th – beginning of 20th centuries. In its second part the chapter offers a brief overview of the historiographical contributions to the research of the economic history of the Bulgarians during the Ottoman era, in its summary and analytical presentation to the attention of the wider readership. ne aim is to outline what has already been achieved and to indicate the prospects for future publications on the subject.