Ahi Organizations in Terms of Corporations, Corporation Associations and Business Ethics in Anatolia of the Middle Ages: An Analysis of the Ibn-i Battuta’s Travelogue

Abstract

Resources related to business generally shed light after the industrial revolution. The literature on this period before the industrial revolution is rather limited. The history of the society and the history of business affects the culture and the organization culture. In this respect, the study is very important in terms of business and organizational culture in Anatolia. Objective of this study is to examine traveler Ibn-i Battuta's two volume-work called as "Ibn-i Battuta’s Travelogue" on the Ahi organization, which is considered important in terms of business activities and business associations in Anatolia between 1300-1400 AD during the middle ages and focus on work ethics and social responsibility activities performed within this period. Considering the conditions of that age, the presence of highly disciplined work ethics and social responsibility activities can be seen. As the method, document review technique, which is one of qualitative research methods, was employed. It is expected that this study will be beneficial to the academic studies that are possible in the past about the business ethics and social responsibility activities in Anatolia. Moreover, the importance of exploring the business activities in Europe is emerging in the middle ages.