Pergamene due-trecentesche della Certosa di Calci rogate in Levante

Desidero preliminarmente ringraziare Vilma Tirotta, del Museo della Certosa, per avermi fornito le fotografie di tutte le pergamene qui edite e per avermi trasmesso le misure di esse; e l’amico Ignazio Del Punta per aver analizzato dietro mia richiesta gli inventari delle medesime pergamene custoditi presso l’Archivio di Stato di Pisa e avermi comunicato la segnatura di quelle rogate in località del Levante.

Abstract

The rich archival collection of the Pisan Charterhouse at Calci preserves over 3,000 parchments, many of which concern Pisan trade. Discussed here are eight documents concerning the activity of Pisan merchants in the Levant and in Byzantine territories, especially in Acre, Cyprus and Alexandria. Six deeds are from the thirteenth century, of which five predate the Fall of Acre. Two other documents from the early fourteenth century were drawn up in Crimea (Soldaia), and were recently published by Francesca Pucci Donati. The documents provide evidence on the composition of the Tuscan urban merchant class, which is represented in the documents by wealthy and influential members of the local nobility, as well as by members of the lower class. The documents also demonstrate the scope of their trading activities. The merchants travelled widely and had purview over large areas. Especially noteworthy is the fact that the same merchants frequented the emporia of Romania as well as those of the Middle East and Egypt, often linking them together and even going beyond Constantinople to the Black Sea. Finally, the documents provide interesting information on the goods exchanged in these transactions and the currencies used in this wide-ranging trade.

Notes

Desidero preliminarmente ringraziare Vilma Tirotta, del Museo della Certosa, per avermi fornito le fotografie di tutte le pergamene qui edite e per avermi trasmesso le misure di esse; e l’amico Ignazio Del Punta per aver analizzato dietro mia richiesta gli inventari delle medesime pergamene custoditi presso l’Archivio di Stato di Pisa e avermi comunicato la segnatura di quelle rogate in località del Levante.