Os homens da nação e o trato tabaqueiro. Notas sobre redes e mobilidade geográfica no contexto europeu e colonial moderno

Abstract

The present study examines with the possible detail a vital aspect of the Iberian Kingdoms economy at the start of the XVII century: the leasing of royal revenues of the tobacco monopoly in connection with the overseas mercantile activity and the slave trade. It emphasizes the existence of a vast financial business based on the leasing of said revenues, within which economic and political interests co-existed, leading to the creation of networks of economic patronage and political pressure groups. Finally, the study highlights the strong presence of merchants with Jewish roots in the tobacco revenues and the role played by the Inquisition. In fact, the group of great merchants of tobacco seems to have coincided with the profile of the suspects in the faith, particularly in 17^th century and 1st half of the 18^th century.