'Segmented Trade’. Merchants, Mercantile Practices and Mercantilism between Trieste, the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the XVIII Century

The emergence of the current globalisation phase and, at the beginning of the 21st century, the outbreak of systemic crisis, have compellingly propelled spatial themes to the forefront of historical debate once again. In this framework, the paper focuses on the trade and economic relationships between Trieste, Mediterranean and Ocean. The essay particularly analyses the Trieste merchants’ strategies and the role of Trieste in the global trade networks hierarchizing and linking the various economic areas. The paper’s goal is highlight the relationships, interconnections and proximity in global network connections and in the relationships between centres and peripheries. It was within the context of these relationships and complex hierarchies that the port of Trieste and the merchants based there became centre stage players in the 18th century trade circuits