An Aspect of Antwerp's International Commerce : An Analysis of London Port Book in 1567/8

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  • アントウェルペン国際商業の一断面 : 一五六七・八年ロンドン・ポートブック分析
  • アントウェルペン コクサイ ショウギョウ ノ イチダンメン イチゴロクシチ ハ

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Despite an increasing volume of literature, few statistical studies exist on the actual trade of Antwerp in the sixteenth century. I have analysed a port book (edited by B. Dietz in 1972) in order to compare the trade with London done by Antwerp with that done by the other ports. Unfortunately, port books are incomplete for many years and the only port book available on a reasonably systematic basis in the Public Record Office does not contain the record of the imports into London by foreigners. But it can be said that more than sixty per cent of imports into London was done by English merchants. As regards smuggling, it is doubtful whether it was really worth bribing custom officers or running the risk of smuggling to evade duties amounting to only five per cent of official value. Thus, though the data are not complete, they probably represent a reasonable sample of an aspect of the Antwerp's trade. The examination of the estimated statistics of the London's import has revealed that the Antwerp's trade amounted to an extraordinary proportion. The conclusions are as follows : 1. Of 699 ships selected out of the total 831, 118 came from Antwerp, 95 Amsterdam, 86 Bordeaux, 51 Rouen, etc. 2. Two-fifth (39%) of the value funnelled through Antwerp, Rouen (14%), Barbary (7%), Danzig (5%), Spain (4%), Amsterdam (4%), etc. 3. The cargoes from other ports consisted of raw waterials, agricultural products, and exotic products such as sugar, each port specializing in trading in particular products, whereas the goods through Antwerp showed a vastly great diversity. i) Luxury cloth such as velvet and fustian, and spices headed by pepper. ii) Manufactured goods, namely, linen cloth, many kinds of metallurgical products from Aachen and Germany, small wares, furnitures and glasswares. iii) Raw materials such as dyestuffs (e.g. madder), flax, etc. iv) The others including dried fruits. It is now known that Antwerp's preeminence in London's import trade was based not only on her function as an international entrepot but also on the distribution of local manufactures.

Journal

  • SOCIO-ECONOMIC HISTORY

    SOCIO-ECONOMIC HISTORY 44 (1), 50-72,103-102, 1978

    THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC HISTORY SOCIETY

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