The Portuguese Community of Pisa and Livorno and the Brazil Trade, c.1591-1621

This article aims to highlight the importance of Portuguese New Christians in the trade of goods from the Portuguese colonial world, particularly from Brazil, during the late 16th century and the early decades of the 17th century in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Through an analysis of the factors that contributed to the demographic growth of the population of Portuguese origins in the cities of Pisa and Livorno, the article examines the roles of two prominent businessmen who fostered mercantile networks and the exchange of information at a time when Tuscan authorities were striving to expand their connections with the extra-European world.