COMMERCIAL NICHES AND RESILIENCE OF EARLY MODERN MEDITERRANEAN ECONOMIC SYSTEMS. VENETIAN GLASS BEADS GLOBAL TRADE IN THE 18th CENTURY|NICCHIE COMMERCIALI E RESILIENZA DEI SISTEMI ECONOMICI MEDITERRANEI DI ETÀ MODERNA. IL COMMERCIO MONDIALE DELLE PERLE DI VETRO VENEZIANE NEL XVIII SECOLO

In the 18th century, glass beads were one of the symbols of the Venetian industry. Although they were niche products, they were paramount both for the urban economy of Venice and for its trade. This paper examines the case study of Venetian glass beads to better understand the characteristics and position of the Venetian economy in the 18th century, showing how, through specialization in commercial niches, Venice remained connected to the major international maritime trade of the time. This paper focuses on the expansion of Venetian glass beads and their resilience in the 18th century, highlighting that their success derived both from the characteristics of the production chain and from market diversification. The study of Venetian glass beads trade allows to highlight the deep interconnections existing between Venice, the Levant and the Atlantic, while from the point of view of the actors, this paper shows the emergence of glass beads merchantsentrepreneurs and the central role of the Jewish community for the Venetian economy in the 18th century.