Through the Water and the Storm: Maritime Averages and Seaborne Trade in Early Modern Genoa, 1590-1700

The maritime legal framework of General Average (GA) remains an enigmatic and overlooked process within the history of seaborne trade. An ancient rule that redates Roman Law, it continues to be operational today, in a largely unchanged state, mandating the redistribution of unexpected costs that arise during a maritime expedition amongst shipowners and merchants. In this detailed examination of Average procedures within the Italian maritime republic of Genoa, between the years 1590 and 1700, Through the Water and the Storm demonstrates how this rich data can be used to investigate the dynamics of Mediterranean seaborne trade.

Antonio Iodice is a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Roma Tre. A former postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Genoa, as well as an honorary Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter, his research considers early modern European maritime risk management, trade, and mobility, with a specific focus on the Republic of Genoa and the Tyrrhenian region. His recent publications include:; ‘The “Palladium of Prosperity”: Lobbying Between Marseilles and Paris from the Revolution to the Restoration (1789-1817)’, Business History, and a chapter entitled, ‘General Average in Genoa: between rules and customs’ in Sharing Risk: General Average and European Maritime Business (VI-XVIII Centuries), (ed. Addobbati, A., M. Fusaro, L. Piccinno, Palgrave Macmillan 2023).

Subject: History: Medieval/Early Modern Travel and Tourism

Area: Southern Europe

Subject Codes

LC: KKH6026 .I53 2025

BISAC:
HIS037020 HISTORY/Renaissance;
HIS020000 HISTORY/Europe/Italy;
HIS057000 HISTORY/Maritime History & Piracy

THEMA: NHDL; NHTM; KCZ

Appendix I: Genoese Statuti Civili, 1589
Appendix II: Memorandum against Barratry and False Reports, 1690
Appendix III: Report of the Patrone Giacomo S. Michele, 1638
Appendix IV: Report of the Patrone Santino Fugone, 1640
Appendix V: Report of the Patrone Gregorio Graffigna, 1640
Appendix VI: Report of the Patrone Lorenzo Cappello, 1698
Appendix VII: List of Known Calculators by Year, 1598-1700
Appendix VIII: Report and Calculation “Templates”, 1692
Appendix IX: Memoir on GA Contributing Values and Targa’s Reply, 1691
Appendix X: Routes Followed by Schiaffino (1598) and Losardo (1690)

Bibliography
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Volume 2

Mediterranean Counterpoints

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Through the Water and the Storm

Maritime Averages and Seaborne Trade in Early Modern Genoa, 1590-1700

Antonio Iodice

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Subject: History: Medieval/Early ModernTravel and Tourism

Area: Southern Europe

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Subject: History: Medieval/Early Modern Travel and Tourism