Weapons’ production in the Republic of Venice in the Early Modern period: the manufacturing centre of Brescia between military needs and economic equilibrium

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of the paper is to analyse the functioning of weapons’ production in the province of Brescia in the Early Modern period. The article will underline the delicate equilibrium between productive capacity, international market and military and political needs of the Republic of Venice. In the Republic of Venice, but generally in every time and area, war affected weapons’ production in different ways: in a positive way, stimulating the growth of the Brescian productive system, with internal and external demands that fostered investments. However, when the system was big enough to face both these demands (internal and external), the level of production had to remain high; otherwise, masters would emigrate to find markets that were more profitable. From this point of view, war could be a great limit, because the Republic of Venice restricted the export (of men and products) to maintain inside its borders the know-how and the weapons for its own use. Moreover, there was the will to not supply arms to the enemy States.