This study examines socio-economic mobility and marriage alliances in sixteenth-century Venetian Crete, focusing on the Curcumeli family from the middle social stratum (cittadini). It analyzes the marital strategies and motivations behind the formation of unions and their connection to the business practices highlighting how marriage was used as a tool to forge alliances, consolidate wealth, elevate social status and enhance their role in the public sphere. Additionally, the study delves into the transfer of dowries, which provides valuable information about the wealth distribution, financial strategies, and familial dynamics of the time. Lastly, it examines other practices employed by the Curcumeli family in order to rise in social hierarchy and/or retain their wealth.
University of Crete, Greece - ORCID: 0009-0000-6611-8106
Chapter Title
Marriage alliances and socio-economic mobility in Venetian Crete (16th century)
Authors
Aristea Gratsea
Language
English
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0667-9.25
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Book Title
La mobilità sociale nelle società preindustriali: tendenze, cause ed effetti (secc. XIII-XVIII) / Social mobility in pre-industrial societies: tendencies, causes and effects (13th-18th centuries)
Editors
Angela Orlandi
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
612
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0667-9
ISBN Print
979-12-215-0666-2
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0667-9
eISBN (xml)
979-12-215-0668-6
Series Title
Datini Studies in Economic History
Series ISSN
2975-1241
Series E-ISSN
2975-1195