The influences of the Portuguese economic thought on the Breve trattato: Antonio Serra and Miguel Vaaz in Spanish Naples

Since now in the analysis of the genesis of the “Breve Trattato” very little attention has been paid to the possible links existing between Antonio Serra and the group of merchants and bankers conversos of Portuguese origin established in Naples between the end of 16th century and the beginning of 17th. This group, although numerically exiguous, played a very important role in the domain of the trade and the finance of the kingdom and integrated the highest circles of the Spanish administration in Southern Italy, especially during the ruling of the viceroy Count of Lemos, between 1610 and 1616. Skilled in the practice of international trade, the Portuguese merchants and bankers in Naples could not ignore the economic theory developed in the Lusitanian culture during the 16th century that, by the matter of fact, presents several interesting points of contact with the approach of Antonio Serra.