Studnicki-Gizbert Daviken
(2002) Interdependence and the collective pursuit of profits:
Portuguese commercial networks in the early modern Atlantic, Curto
Diogo Ramada and Molho Anthony eds., European University Institute Working Paper, 2, Commercial Networks in the Early Modern World, 90-120.
This article is available on line (pdf).
Introduction
The Portuguese merchant network or nation was one of the most
dynamic institutions of transnational and inter-regional trade of the
early modern period (91). A nation was a community of foreign
merchants distinguished from the local society and institutionally
and/or socially bond together.
An ad hoc organisation
The Portuguese nation was geographically dispersed over the Atlantic
world yet socially socially connected during the 16th and earlt 17th
century. It hosted an ecology of relationships (kinship, commercial
association, common religion). It fostered trust which allowed market
transactions in the absence of institutionalized enforcement
mechanisms (92).
This type of organisation proved particularly useful for illegal
inter-imperial trade (43% of Spanish American silver import were
smuggled out of the monarchical monopoly system) (93). At the
beginning of the 17th century, there were about 9,000 merchants in the
Portuguese network (only half of them were born in Portugal). They
highly mobile and could resettle 5 times over the course of their
lives. The network was also extremely fluid with new houses entering
regularly and old ones disappearing often (95).
An elusive bond
The Portuguese nation was an heterogeneous networks that did not rely chiefly on a priori bonds such as religion, nationality, kinship or common origin:
- The nation was composed of both Old Christians, conversos and marranos. Many trading houses mixed all three populations as well (96). So religion was not the bonding element of the Portuguese nation.
- English, German, Flemish or Castilian partners were common, there
were numerous bridges between the different nations. These
relationships were essential to commerce across regions, sectors or
cultures (97). The common national identity was no sufficient warranty for merchants active the planet over.
- The merchants were not either coming from the same region in Portugal.
- Each trading house was also made up of several different families (from 2 to 5) (98).
One did not have enough parents to send as associate wherever business
required. A kinsman was sometimes recruited as apprentices by parents
but more importantly marriage regularly thickened the connection
between the families composing a trading house. Thus kinship reinforced
pre-existing bonds (99).
The Portuguese nations bonds were to be constructed, they were not inherited.
Common values
Early modern values of mutualism and interdependence (rather than
contemporary individualism) were at the core of the Portuguese
merchants mentalities (100). Membership made the man (101).
Merchants considered they were invested in one another. Self-interest
was to keep the group united and wealthy. Individualism was broadly
seen as a dangerous and sinful trait.
As a result, ones good reputation was essential. Numerous and dense
linkage between the merchants allowed information to travel and ones
status was constantly updated. A very social life style (large
household, frequents celebrations, etc.) made secrecy difficult (102).
The Atlantic-wide constellation of merchant houses was like a
neighbourhood abuzz with gossip. It was essential to keep bonds alive
and meaningful and exchange judgement and evaluation.
The gossip network
Talk and active gossip built and undermined reputations. One had to remain reputable and honorable and keep his partners and parents good name untarnished (103). This stream of information also expressed the groups normative values.
Honesty was critical at a time when huge sums were lent with no enforcement mechanisms to guarantee the recovering of debts (104). Frankness was also important as it the social cohesion of the trading houses. So was largesse (105). Humility and deference was essential to sociability (one was always at his associates service) (106).
Creating new links
Gift-giving was often use to materialise the merchants
interdependence. A wide variety of gift travelled across the Atlantic.
They smoothened merchant to merchant relationships as well as extending
ones network beyond the circles of merchants. Indeed, the Portuguese
nation around the Atlantic was also composed of mariners, civil
servants, clergymen and artisans. The Portuguese communities connected
in chapels and hospitals . Merchants were the benefactors of their
communities, for instance providing dowries to orphans girls (108).
In return, merchants were often elected consuls of the communities (109).
The exchange of gifts also thickened the relationship between merchants
that often evolved into a form of brotherhood which could be
institutionalised through compadrazgo (godparentage) and
marriage. Kinship was constructed, not a given. This marital strategy
created connections so dense that it is often difficult to distinguish
one family from another. Merchants spent heavily on their daughters
dowry. A sound investment that extended ones network (112).
The powerful merchants were regarded as the patrons or the fathers
of their communities, a speaking image for a paternalistic society
where family was a central institution. A powerful merchants would have
under his authority his descendents, his slaves and his clients, like a
roman dominus (114).
The commercial network
Unlike joint-stock companies, the Portuguese network had a
decentralized system of monitoring. The network was a highly integrated
structure in turns every one has each others associate, debtor and
creditor. As such the individual merchants caudal (both moral
quality and economic capital) was key to the whole organisation. A good
example of interdependence is to be found in the fact that young
merchants needed their seniors loans of stock and capital to start off
and that the latters needed their juniors to develop their network and
each new markets (115).
Long-standing associations were the norm and they sometimes extended
over generations. These multi-layered relationships were essential and
one was careful not to sever them. With trust came flexibility as
merchants could empower their associate to manage their business on the
other side of the ocean (116). The fact that between two
partners, the account was always imbalanced (one owned something to the
other one year, and inversely the following year), this made lasting
commercial relationships almost a necessity.
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