Chapter Two. Portuguese trade with northwestern Europe

Abstract

This chapter describes Portugal?s foreign trade before and as Brazilian sugar was introduced. One of the factors influencing the direction of the sugar trade was the existence of previously established trade routes. The chapter begins by looking at the trade relationship between Portugal and the southern Low Countries, especially Antwerp, Portugal?s most important trading partner until the middle part of the sixteenth century. Subsequently it explores trade relations between Portugal and three parts of Germany: northern Germany, Bavaria - especially the rich towns of Nuremberg and Augsburg - and finally Cologne. These proved to be significant secondary markets for Brazilian sugar, but sometimes only temporarily. The chapter finally discusses trade route between Portugal and the northern Netherlands, especially the provinces of Holland and Zeeland. In the second decade of the seventeenth century, this route became the most important for Brazilian sugar.Keywords: Antwerp; Bavaria; Brazilian sugar; Cologne; Holland; northern Germany; Portugal; trade relationship; Zeeland