Seaborne clandestine trade in eighteenth century Malta : tobacco and grain

Abstract

The Mediterranean island of Malta provides an interesting backdrop to explore aspects of eighteenth-century seaborne illegal economic activity. The island's geostrategic position and favourable port facilities, coupled with the dire need of importing provisions to secure the survival of its inhabitants, generated a brisk maritime activity. Situated on the fringes of Christian Europe, the island of Malta was frequently portrayed as that godforsaken island whose resources often fell short of meeting the basic needs of its inhabitants. The archipelago was described by the sixteenth century French chaplain of the Order of St John, Jean Quintin d'Autun, as fortunate for its vicinity to Sicily. The eighteenth century Venetian resident minister in Malta, Massimiliano Buzzaccarini Gonzaga, was of a similar opinion when commenting about Malta's geostrategic closeness to Sicily.