The Sicilian Jews in the Maritime Trade in the Second Half of the 15th Century

Abstract

Evidences of Jewish settlements in Sicily date back to the late antique period and this varied and industrious minority has been present, without interruption, until the last decade of the 15th century. The Sicilian Jews lived closely linked to the majority around them, they settled in the three “valli” in which the island was parcelled out and especially in the main coastal cities. Many communities, indeed, grouped around big urban centres and only few of them were situated in suburban areas, even if they were not completely isolated, and many inland communities settled along the main communications lines. The Sicilian Jews devoted themselves to diversified professions; they were physicians, silk weavers, blacksmiths, small artisans, shopkeepers and merchants of several items: cloths, silk, spices, metals and metallurgic products, sugar, slaves and so on.