Original scientific paper
Trade Relations between Pesaro and Dubrovnik till 1700
Bogumil Hrabak
; Filozofski Fakultet, Novi Sad, Srbija
Abstract
Pesaro was an important stop for the Ragusan merchants on their way from Florence to Dubrovnik and even farther to the central Balkan parts. Around 1420 Pesaro was given priority over Ancona and from then on the true Dubrovnik—Pesaro regular commercial relations were established. The Ragusans had more interest in Pesaro than the other way round. With the last decade of the 15th century the interest of Pesaro decreased even more and from 1570-1620 their economic relations ceased to exist. The Ragusans assimilated easily in Pesaro. As the relations between the two towns were slowly coming to an end the Jews, especially the ones from Pesaro took over the Ragusans' part.
The two economies were quite complementary. Dubrovnik exported mining products (silver, lead, carmisium), wax, leather and woolen blankets (sclavinae) followed, and sometimes cloaks and Egyptian pepper. Pesaro exported cereals, wine, guado flax (material of herbal origin used for dying cloth in blue) and also wine from southern Italian provinces. Pesaro made profit out of Ragusan ships for they themselves did not have a sufficient number not even after 1530, the year the Pesaro navy rapidly enlarged. The Ragusans connected Pesaro with other Italian parts, transporting cereals, salt and timber. Their regular routs to Albania, Epir and Ionic islands made them well-known. These parts offered oak-galls for tanning pelts (valonea). Seamen from Lopud and later from Slano were the ones who most frequently contacted with Pesaro.
The most prominent Pesarians in Dubrovnik were pharmacists indulged in all kinds of trade such as Monardo Viganti and Simon. The Pesarian trade in Dubrovnik was mostly supported by the Florentines and merchants from Prato. There were not many craftsmen from Pesaro in Dubrovnik. Most frequently mentioned Pesarian in the town of St. Blase was a certain Teretius de Terentiis, a small-time usurer (25% profit) who in return for credits took various pawns. The Ragusans acted as creditors too, Pesaro never really being of much financial support to Dubrovnik. They had no actual need for Ragusan labor. They made better use of procurators who collected their credits and debits and represented Pesaro at the Dubrovnik Court of Law. It has already been mentioned that the Pesarians were not the only Italians Dubrovnik had commercial relations with. The Pesarians were certainly the ones to behave more freely and with less decency in Dubrovnik than their fellow countrymen. Transport ties were of significance for both parties. The Pesarians in Dubrovnik had the advantage of using the Ragusan well developed system of ensuring safe transit.
Keywords
diplomacy; trade; Dubrovnik; Dubrovnik Republic; Pesaro; Italy
Hrčak ID:
240893
URI
Publication date:
30.6.1991.
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