Grain merchants and famines in late Renaissance

A study of grain trade and victualling systems in late Renaissance Veneto reveals that while cities and merchants relied on established procedures during food shortages, population growth and market closures necessitated adaptations. Using public records like council rolls and municipal accounts, alongside private notarial documents, researchers analyzed the careers of two key merchants—Giovanni Maria Mersi from Padua and Simone Barana—to illustrate how selective application of regulations shaped grain supply strategies. Barana's probate inventory provides rare insight into a merchant's operations during this period. The research challenges a one-dimensional view of grain trade, highlighting its complexity and the dynamic interplay between policy and practice.

Vianello, F. (2025). Grain merchants and famines in late Renaissance. A History of the Global Wheat Trade, 15–30. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032642369-3