Genoa and the Genoese, 958-1528

by Steven A. Epstein

Set in the middle of the Italian Riviera, Genoa is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. But Genoa was also one of medieval Europe's major centers of trade and commerce. In Genoa and the Genoese, 958-1528, Steven Epstein has written the first comprehensive history of the city that traces its transformation from an obscure port into the capital of a small but thriving republic with an extensive overseas empire. In a series of chronological chapters, Epstein bridges six centuries of medieval and Renaissance history by skillfully interweaving the four threads of political events, economic trends, social conditions, and cultural accomplishments. He provides considerable new evidence on social themes and also examines other subjects important to Genoa's development, such as religion, the Crusades, the city's long and combative relations with the Muslim world, the environment, and epidemic disease, giving this book a scope that encompasses the entire Mediterranean. Along with the nobles and merchants who governed the city, Epstein profiles the ordinary men and women of Genoa. Genoa and the Genoese, 958-1528 displays the full richness and eclectic nature of the Genoese people during their most vibrant centuries.

Genres: History, Italy, Nonfiction, Medieval

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 1996

About the author

Steven Epstein teaches history at the University of Kansas. He was educated at Swarthmore College, St. John’s College (Cambridge University), and Harvard College, where he developed his interests in medieval social and economic history. He is the author of Speaking of Slavery: Color, Ethnicity, and Human Bondage in Italy (2000), Genoa and the Genoese 958—1528 (1996).

See also: Stephan R. Epstein.

Reviews

[Jo Walton]

I was delighted this book existed, that there was a book about Genoa and I could read it, because Genoa kept appearing at the edges of everything else I read and I wanted to know more about it. Well, I know more about it, and I suppose I am enlightened thereby.

Petrarch wrote that Genoa and Venice were the two eyes of Italy, one looking east and one west, but Genoa mostly looked east too, being deeply involved with the Crusades and having colonies in the Crimea and at Constantinople and on Chios. There's a lot of detail here about where Genoa traded and when, and what, and also about what charities people supported at different times, and about the economy. Because of the nature of the evidence there isn't -- and can't be -- much about what people thought and felt, which makes it slow going. I understand why there aren't bunches of books about Genoa the way there are about Florence and Venice.

I'm glad I've read this one.

[Miles Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very solid, well-written, well-paced piece of general history that offers a dynamic account of a complex subject. The author eschews lengthy rambles on, for example, the Guelfs and the Ghibbelines to concentrate on a few major themes in the history of Genoa, and he does a brilliant job. Also provides an excellent bibliography. I grant this book is probably not suitable for those with no background in Medieval Italy. Shrug.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

There seems to be a difficult narrative thread running through Genoese history which Steven Epstein struggles to pull up from the sea bed.

What floats on the surface seems to be a series of loosely connected revolts, conflicts and changes to monetary policy which are difficult to make sense of. Epstein occasionally redeems this with prolonged analysis of the sourcework which reveals a warren of dark streets bloodied with factional conflict between the warring families of Genoa and the Guelf/Ghibbeline supporters, as well as some broader chords of Italian and Mediterranean history.

However these salient points often go underdeveloped, leaving the reader unsatisfied. There was a brief part on Genovese ecology and how the Genovese did not want to lose their forests to the lumber industry which built ships, and just as this point begins to get interesting Epstein quickly changes tracks and moves onto something else.

If you can fight your way through the reeds, Epstein manages to shine a light on the economic history of this oft overlooked city, and there are undoubtedly helpful things to be garnered from this text. However, readers of economic and social history will be disappointed that Epstein seems unable to paint a proper Alltagsgeschichte, and so the faces of the Genovese fail to coalesce with any meaningful sense of clarity on the window.

[Erik Champenois · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent overview of Genoese history from 958-1528, although not particularly well written and one that could have used greater clarity of organization and more analysis of particularly important events and developments. Genoa was one of the most important Italian city states of the period, often competing with Venice in particular, as well as with other city-states. Genoa had territorial and commercial power throughout the Mediterranean and even in Crimea, and had to engage and balance with the Holy Roman Emperor, the Papacy, the French, the Spanish, and the rest of Italy. The city also experienced a significant amount of internal conflict and the Genoese don't generally come off as well behaved, often asking outsiders to rule and restore peace. The author covers slavery in Genoese society, arguing that Columbus being Genoese made slavery in the Western hemisphere an earlier and more brutal development than might otherwise have been the case. All in all, a good book to get a feel for Genoese history, though not as well-written or well organized as I would have liked.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm shocked, actually, that this only took a little over a month to read -- it felt like six! I appreciated the partial focus on slavery, which ties in with some other books I've been reading on slavery in the Mediterranean during the same time period. Getting through all the financial samples was a lot of work for me. But I will never again have trouble remembering (as I always have before) which side were the Guelfs and which the Ghibellines!

[Rusty del Norte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A survey of medieval Genoa. Lots of tidbits that can enhance information you already have. But by itself it jumps around at to try to connect individuals and families. Much of it needs more fleshing out.

[Jule · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could find no other book about medieval Genoa, so this is my go-to on that topic. Please tell me if you know some other book or article or anything, really.

[Deniss Ojastu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid book on the Medieval history of one of the greatest naval powers of the Mediterranean in the 11-13th centuries. I read it as part of preparation for the trip to the region of Italy Liguria and did not regret it. I particularly liked the economic analysis of how Genoese managed to have quite a large scope of merchant and military activities despite coming from rather limited geographical area. Co-financing ship voyages, spreading the risks, issuing and selling shares in overseas enterprises - all these traits of the modern capitalism were already present in Medieval Genoese Republic.

It was also interesting to follow how the internal strife among various noble clans have ultimately led to demise of the Republic. At times, it was tiresome to follow all the feuds and family names involved - especially towards the end of the book. But otherwise, the book is based on a substantial research of the preserved documents of that time, is quite well-written and sets the right focus in the analysis of Genoa's history.

[José Augusto Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book on medieval Genoa. Epstein goes for economic, a lot of politics, and some cultural and religious aspects of the city. Very well researched although too much detailed on the many political upheavels this incredible city lived through in medieval times and renaissance. If this abundance of details serves well for research (my case), It makes the reading very dry, dull and hard to follow for general reader interested in the city's history.

[AskHistorians]

An excellent survey of the most powerful Italian merchant republic of medieval Italy after Venice. Focuses on the citizens of the city, rather than their activities abroad (although there is quite a bit of that in there as well) as other histories do. EXCELLENT ENDNOTES!