Beyond almsgiving: The financial role of charitable institutions in early modern Portugal and its empire

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• Lisbeth Rodrigues (CITCEM & Faculty of Arts, University of Porto)
• Monday 19 May 2025, 17:15-19:00
• Audit Room, King's College, Cambridge: to receive zoom link please subscribe at https://lists.cam.ac.uk/sympa/subscribe/history-global-economic-history at https://www.hist.cam.ac.uk/event-series/global-economic-history.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Gareth Austin.

This paper explores the historical intersection between charity and finance/business, challenging the idea that their relationship is a contemporary phenomenon. Building on recent scholarly interest in this subject, it posits two key assertions: first, the symbiotic relationship between charity and finance/business dates back, at least, to the early modern period; second, this relationship formed a positive feedback loop, in which finance/business enabled charity to be carried out more easily and extensively, while charity itself triggered entrepreneurial innovation. The Portuguese Misericórdias – lay brotherhoods founded in the late fifteenth century – serve as a case study. While primarily charitable institutions, their activities extended well beyond aid to the poor: they amassed wealth through inheritances of land and rents, lent money privately, accepted deposits, and became major creditors of the Portuguese crown, thereby performing tasks we associate with modern banking.

This talk is part of the Global Economic History Seminar series.

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• Audit Room, King's College, Cambridge: to receive zoom link please subscribe at https://lists.cam.ac.uk/sympa/subscribe/history-global-economic-history at https://www.hist.cam.ac.uk/event-series/global-economic-history

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