Evidence of the Nature, Impact and Diversity of Slavery in 14th Century Famagusta as Seen Through the Genoese Notarial Acts of Lamberto di Sambuceto and Giovanni da Rocha and the Venetian Notarial Acts of Nicola de Boateriis

Abstract

This thesis addresses the impact and diversity of slavery in the city of Famagusta between 1300 and 1362 as observed through the Genoese notarial acts of Lamberto di Sambuceto and Giovanni da Rocha, as well as the Venetian notarial Acts of Nicola de Boateriis. It aims to open a scholarly window into slavery and slave trading activities in the city from a Genoese and Venetian point of view. In this regard, it includes an analysis (synthesis) of the slave population in the city, observing their origin, marketing, age groups, sex, price, social status, daily life and their relations with their masters. The role of Famagusta for international and internal slave trading, and its networks with other provinces, are also observed. Thus, the importance of Famagusta has also been shown as a place to help in the transportation of slaves in international slave trading. The main aim of this thesis is to construct an argument against the general ideas of historians such as Patterson and Dockes who contend that slaves were an isolated community; that they did not socially exist outside of their masters‟ spheres of influence and were described as a subhuman species because of their alienation from citizenship. In this respect, this thesis claims, with examples from notarial deeds in the 14th century, that contacts between slaves also existed with third parties in Famagusta in particular, and the island of Cyprus in general. All these acts treat Famagusta as a commercial harbour city at the very heart of trade, and so offer a good insight into related economic and trading activities.