Genoa’s Maritime Economy in the Early Modern Age: Port, Trade and Merchant Communities in the International Market Network

This chapter examines the evolution of maritime economy in Genoa, the capital of a small regional state organized as an oligarchic republic, during the early modern age. Two parallel and at the same time interconnected lines of research were followed: one analysing the development of the port, its infrastructure and trade; and the other focusing on the main players of this development and the true lifeblood of the port community, i.e. the merchants working in the Genoa market. The resulting picture shows a city that during the early modern age has profoundly changed its role from its glorious time as a maritime republic, managing to reposition itself and adjust to the changing balance of international markets, while maintaining its leading position. This was not only achieved through the Republic's foreign policy strongly focused on neutrality, but also by its businessmen capable of establishing financial and trade relations with all the great European states. Added to this there were far-sighted investments to improve port infrastructure, as well as Genoa’s competitive advantage associated with its merchant class being part of a vast business network encompassing all the most important European markets.