2020/

1-2

ISBN 978-88-8368-151-6

Francesco D’Esposito

Pag. 35-

58

, DOI 10.17426/R06C02

Keywords: Spanish Empire; La Española; Foreigners; 16th century; Merchants; Jews.

Abstract: Foreigners who, bypassing the bans, in the sixteenth century managed to settle in La Española, had an important role in the development of the island. The largest group was the Portuguese, who provided the necessary technical knowledge for the island’s sugar industry. Among them were hidden many Jews, who after 1492 had been expelled first from Spain and then from Portugal. There were also some foreign merchants, mainly Portuguese, Genoese and Florentine, with the occasional presence of the German company of Welser. Three Genoese entrepreneurs also invested in the sugar industry and became part of the island’s elite, while few other Italians arrived on the island following Bishop Alessandro Geraldini.