Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Ribeiro da Silva, F.I. (2009)

The Dutch and the Portuguese in West Africa : empire building and Atlantic system (1580-1674)

Doctoral Thesis

This thesis examines in comparative perspective the Dutch and the Portuguese Atlantic empires in the 17th century, using West Africa as a case study. The book is divided into two parts. In Part I, we study how the conditions in the home countries influenced the building of the empires. Here we examine the goals of the Dutch and the Portuguese States and of the mercantile elites and their strategies for the building of their empires. In order to do so, we analyse the transfer of institutions, the labour migration and the formation of colonial societies. Part II deals mainly with the economic strategies of the Dutch and the Portuguese in their Atlantic Empires. Here, we examine the way these two European sea powers and their private entrepreneurs organized the trade on both an international and local level, as well as the way in which they structured their commercial and business networks, our final goal being a discussion of their struggle for the control of the supply and the...Show moreThis thesis examines in comparative perspective the Dutch and the Portuguese Atlantic empires in the 17th century, using West Africa as a case study. The book is divided into two parts. In Part I, we study how the conditions in the home countries influenced the building of the empires. Here we examine the goals of the Dutch and the Portuguese States and of the mercantile elites and their strategies for the building of their empires. In order to do so, we analyse the transfer of institutions, the labour migration and the formation of colonial societies. Part II deals mainly with the economic strategies of the Dutch and the Portuguese in their Atlantic Empires. Here, we examine the way these two European sea powers and their private entrepreneurs organized the trade on both an international and local level, as well as the way in which they structured their commercial and business networks, our final goal being a discussion of their struggle for the control of the supply and the consumption markets in the Atlantic. Further, we debate the role of the States, the State-sponsored companies and of the private traders on the building of the Dutch and the Portuguese Atlantic economies.Show less

Institutions overseas

Labour migration

Colonial Societies

Transatlantic trade

West African trade

Slave trade

Business networks

Diaspora

Cross-cultural trade

All authors

Ribeiro da Silva, F.I.

Supervisor

Emmer, P.C.

Qualification

Doctor (dr.)

Awarding Institution

Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University

Date

2009-06-24

Juridical information

Court

LEI Universiteit Leiden

Funding

Sponsorship

Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal) and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Portugal)