A Preliminary Study for a Publicly-Accessible Database for Merchant Activity in the Genoese Mediterranean

A PRELIMINARY STUDY FOR A PUBLICLYACCESSIBLE DATABASE FOR MERCHANT ACTIVITY IN THE GENOESE MEDITERRANEAN Steven Teasdale, PhD Candidate, Department of History A database of Genoese merchants between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, 1402-1528, and its visualization. A DATABASE OF GENOESE MERCHANTS There is a wealth of archival material recording Genoese merchant activity in the fifteenth-century Mediterranean and Atlantic worlds. An international group of scholars is currently outlining the development of database of Genoese merchants. We are considering implementing a NoSQL graph database solution to emphasize the social networks of this group. 1 2 THE PURPOSE OF THE DATABASE The database will be both an analytic and synthetic tool. 1. A guide to the archives. 2. Allow for synthetic studies of social and familial groups. 3. Allow for detailed regional syntheses. 4. Provide detailed information on wide range of merchant activities. Ultimately, the database will provide a way to encourage greater use of archival materials for historical research. WHATWEHOPETOCAPTURE The focus will be capturing the names, places, and actions of the Genoese merchant diaspora. A summary of notarial deed from Genoa: A certain Francesco di Francesco Lomellini obtains insurance of 800 lire from Antonio Interiano for a shipment of goods, as well as one Circassian slave by the name of Maddalena, from Chios to Genoa on the vessel of Martino Negrone. Notary Branca Bagnara, Genoa, 9 August 1429, with witness by Pietro Lecavello. 3 4 VISUALLY REPRESENTING THE DATABASE Two methods of visual representation: 1. Social networks. 2. Geospatial networks. But as historians we must always consider “change over time…” 3. It is necessary to incorporate a temporal aspect to 1 and 2. EXAMPLE: THE LOMELLINI MERCHANT NETWORK A large part of my research focuses on the Lomellini family and the slave trade during the fifteenth-century. Why the Lomellini? •They were active in the Mediterranean slave trade. •They were widely dispersed across the Mediterranean and Atlantic. •They appear regularly throughout the documentary record. 5 6 A BRIEF EXAMPLE: AMBROGIO LOMELLINI 1426-03-23: Ambrogio, in Genoa, obtains insurance of 500 lire from a Antonio Ittaliano for a shipment of jewels and gold from Genoa to Cadiz on the vessel of Carlo Ittaliano. Deed of notary Branca Bagnara. 1430-06-15: Ambrogio, in Lisbon, ships slaves from Caffa and grain from Palermo to Ceuta in a vessel of Giovanni Cattaneo of Genoa. Deed of notary Antonio Fazio. 1434-02-22: Ambrogio, in Seville, obtain pardons for merchant Girolamo Spinola who had sent goods from Malaga to Southampton against the orders of Juan II of Castile. Letter from Ambrogio. 1443-09-25: Ambrogio, resident in Nantes, is granted by royal charter security by Afonso V for his ships, their crew, and their goods, which are heading to Lisbon. Deed of notary Alvaro Gonçalvez. 1456-02-02: Ambrogio, in Genoa, obtains insurance of 150 lire against the risk of childbirth from a certain Giovanni de Nigro for the Circassan slave Marta, who is 22 years of age. Deed of notary Tomasso Duracino, witnessed by Antonio Carbone. 1459-01-15: Ambrogio, in Lisbon, is received into the service of Afonso V for 5 years, with royal protection to himself, his servants, his slaves, and his goods, and any vessels that carry his goods. AMBROGIO’S SOCIAL NETWORK: RELATIONAL 7 8 AMBROGIO’S SOCIAL NETWORK: GEOSPATIAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS Temporality •The data is very dynamic: how to represent time. Granularity •Temporal granularity: exact dates often not known. •Spatial granularity: many deeds specify places within a city, others only specify regions, how to deal with this when representing spatially. 9 10 6 FUTHER INFORMATION The “Genoese merchant networks in Africa and across the Atlantic Ocean (ca. 1450–1530)” project: http://dhi-roma.it/projekte-aktuell+M5573d3c233f.html?&L=11 The “Genoese merchant database” project: http://www.steventeasdale.com/gmd 11