The Discovery of the Tolfa Mines and the Reorganisation of Territory and of the Financial Flows

This paper will analyse the characteristics and relationship between market dynamics, financial flows, geography and urban space throughout the 15th century and into the 16th after the discovering of the Tolfa mines. These relationships will be strengthened and justified by the account of several important merchants and banker families that animated the Italian and international landscape during this period. Siena and its environs will be addressed first. By the 13th century, Siena had already evolved into the centre of operations for large business corporations whose activities expanded out internationally. These included the Bonsignori, Salimbeni, Tolomei and Piccolomini families. They partnered with the Roman Curia, fairs of Champagne, and merchant circuits of England, Languedoc, Flanders and western Germany in their financial operations. Europe’s economic geography changed. Business interests shifted to the financial and commercial centres of Bruges, London, Lisbon, Seville. Palabras clave: Tolfa mines, Siena, Roma, Renaissance