Genoese women, family business practices, and maritime commerce, 1155-1216

"By the mid-twelfth century, the revitalized cities of northern Italy joined the well-developed cycle of Mediterranean trade dominated in previous centuries by Moslems and Byzantines. Roberto Lopez and others have argued that this ""Commercial Revolution"" of the Middle Ages signalled the point when western Europeans began the slow but steady transition from the agrarian-centered economy of early medieval society to the money economy of the world today. The State Archive of Genoa holds the oldest and one of the largest collections of medieval notarial records in Europe. An examination of the earliest documents reveals that Genoese women were actively involved in their city's most important commercial operations through the use of the popular commenda partnership contract. In fact, women recorded investments in nearly one-quarter of over 4000 surviving contracts dating from 1155 to 1216. This investigation demonstrates the importance of women in Genoa's expanding maritime trade, both as individuals and as active members of family enterprises."

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History, European

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Angelos, Mark John

Contributors dc:contributor

• Queller, Donald E.

• History, European
• Women's Studies
• History, Medieval

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1992 Angelos, Mark John

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9305452
(UMI)AAI9305452

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/21094