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Italian bill of exchange

Date
1483
Archive
County Archive of Alt Penedès
Document type
Textual
Reference code
CAT-ACAP-51-50
Link to the online document
Description

In 1483, the Italian merchant Fattinelli issued a bill of exchange in favor of Pere Bartomeu, canon of Barcelona, ​​and other members of his family, among them a notary from Vilafranca. This seemingly technical document is actually a key piece to understanding the sophistication of financial practices that were already circulating in Europe at the end of the 15th century. The bill of exchange, a forerunner of modern credit, allowed money to be transferred at a distance without the risk of physical transport, and was essential for international trade. Its presence in Catalonia demonstrates the country’s integration into European economic circuits and the direct influence of the Italian models, pioneers in banking and finance. This document tells us about an open, connected and modern Catalonia, which adopted and adapted European innovations to boost its economic and institutional development.