Abstract

LAURENT, Muriel. CONFRONTING CONTRABAND IN NEW FRANCE AND NEW GRANADA: REFLECTIONS ON ILLICIT TRADE IN THE COLONIAL CONTEXT. hist.crit. [online]. 2003, n.25, pp.137-163. ISSN 0121-1617.

This paper presents a series of reflections on the phenomenon of smuggling, based on the specific cases of two American colonies, New France and New Granada, during the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The purpose is to highlight the characteristics common to illicit trade in both these colonies despite their notorious differences. Specifically, the paper focuses on five different traits that typified smuggling in both New France and New Granada and which make it possible to explain its continued existence there throughout the colonial period: first, the socioeconomic needs underlying the rise and continuation of smuggling; secondly, the measures taken by the authorities to repress this illegal activity; thirdly, the role of merchants and their relative independence with respect to authority; fourthly, the topic of profitability and subsequent enrichment, marked by corruption and the influence of social networks in official affairs; fifth and finally, the presence of indigenous groups, their co-existence with authorities in the conquered territories, and their relationship to trade.

Keywords : smuggling; new france; new granada; mercantilism; merchants; Indians.

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