BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Beyond almsgiving: The financial role of charitable institutions i
 n early modern Portugal and its empire - Lisbeth Rodrigues (CITCEM & Facul
 ty of Arts\, University of Porto)
DTSTART:20250519T161500Z
DTEND:20250519T180000Z
UID:TALK231328@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Gareth Austin
DESCRIPTION:This paper explores the historical intersection between charit
 y and finance/business\, challenging the idea that their relationship is a
  contemporary phenomenon. Building on recent scholarly interest in this su
 bject\, it posits two key assertions: first\, the symbiotic relationship b
 etween charity and finance/business dates back\, at least\, to the early m
 odern period\; second\, this relationship formed a positive feedback loop\
 , in which finance/business enabled charity to be carried out more easily 
 and extensively\, while \ncharity itself triggered entrepreneurial innovat
 ion. The Portuguese Misericórdias – lay brotherhoods founded in the lat
 e fifteenth century – serve as a case study. While primarily charitable 
 institutions\, their activities extended well beyond aid to the poor: they
  amassed wealth through inheritances of land and rents\, lent money privat
 ely\, accepted deposits\, and became major creditors of the Portuguese cro
 wn\, thereby performing tasks we associate with modern banking.
LOCATION:Audit Room\, King's College\, Cambridge: to receive zoom link ple
 ase subscribe at https://lists.cam.ac.uk/sympa/subscribe/history-global-ec
 onomic-history at https://www.hist.cam.ac.uk/event-series/global-economic-
 history
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR