ABSTRACT
The Florentines were the most numerous of any of the Italian people at Lisbon in 1500. They were there chiefly as merchants and bankers. For some years, however, these Florentines had been forced to ally themselves more closely with the commerce of Portugal, for in September 1494 their entire marine had been permanently destroyed by the Pisans. 1 They were thus quick to take advantage of the opening offered by the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal. When the sea route to India was established it was the Florentines more than any other outside nation who were permitted to benefit by it, because the Venetians could not be thoroughly trusted in voyages so detrimental to their Republic. 2
