From the tavern to the court of commerce: small and large Portuguese businesses in Belém

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to underscore the prominence of Portuguese commerce in Belém in the middle of the 19th century. Thus, we can notice that Portuguese commerce was very various. They stood out like owners of taverns, stores, storehouses. Especially the ones who are directly linked to the transatlantic commerce of products and slaves that arrived and departure in Pará. It is aimed to highlight that Portuguese commerce practice in Pará was various, fact that qualified several of them as business men for having had evolved with the broad trade. As a result of some remarkable actuations, it was found many entries registered in the Commercial Court of Pernambuco or Rio de Janeiro to fulfill the requirements in the Code of Trade from 1850. Moreover, the entry itself represents a kind of distinctive among the ones who were in the hierarchy of commerce in Belém.

Keywords:
Commerce; Portuguese people; 19^th century