What shaped the economic identities of Thessaly and Smyrna during a century of transformation? This book offers a comparative exploration of two dynamic regions of the late Ottoman Empire — Thessaly, incorporated into the Greek state in 1881, and cosmopolitan Smyrna in western Asia Minor — during the pivotal period between 1820 and 1920. Through the lens of economic history, it examines developments across the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, revealing both similarities and striking contrasts. The study delves into patterns of land ownership, modes of production, and the role of local and ethnic communities in shaping regional economies. Special attention is given to the impact of transport infrastructure, institutional frameworks, and the prominent presence of European capital and entrepreneurship in the Eastern Mediterranean. Bridging economic analysis with historical context, this work uncovers the forces that drove change — and continuity— in two regions at the crossroads of East and West, tradition and modernity.