The oldest alliance : a material exploration of early modern English-Portuguese relationships
Social and economic ties between England and Portugal stretch back to the 12th century. Focusing on the 16th and 17th centuries, this thesis traces relationships between the two countries for a period which has received little scholarly attention from historians, adding material culture as a new source of evidence to describe historic Anglo-Luso interactions. Plymouth, UK, holds the largest collection of Portuguese ceramics recovered archaeologically in Britain. These provide a nuanced insight on the breadth of Englandâs consumption of Portuguese goods during the 16th and 17th centuries. English acquisition of Portuguese products is a difficult activity to track in the available documents, as many of these objects flowed into English markets and households unrecorded. Routes and reasons for the trade of these ceramics to Plymouth are discussed with the aim of situating the port within the complex networks of the early modern Atlantic World. The general factors influencing the English acquisition of Portuguese ceramics are also explored. Building upon the ceramic case-study at Plymouth, a broader discussion is presented, engaging with Portugalâs material and socioeconomic influence on early modern Atlantic
Newstead, Sarah Rose
The oldest alliance : a material exploration of early modern English-Portuguese relationships. Social and economic ties between England and Portugal stretch back to the 12th century. Focusing on the 16th and 17th centuries, this thesis traces relationships between the two countries for a period which has received little scholarly attention from historians, adding material culture as a new source of evidence to describe historic Anglo-Luso interactions. Plymouth, UK, holds the largest collection of Portuguese ceramics recovered archaeologically in Britain. These provide a nuanced insight on the breadth of Englandâs consumption of Portuguese goods during the 16th and 17th centuries. English acquisition of Portuguese products is a difficult activity to track in the available documents, as many of these objects flowed into English markets and households unrecorded. Routes and reasons for the trade of these ceramics to Plymouth are discussed with the aim of situating the port within the complex networks of the early modern Atlantic World. The general factors influencing the English acquisition of Portuguese ceramics are also explored. Building upon the ceramic case-study at Plymouth, a broader discussion is presented, engaging with Portugalâs material and socioeconomic influence on early modern Atlantic
old alliance material exploration early_modern_english portuguese relationship social_economic tie england portugal stretch back focusing trace relationship two_country period receive_little scholarly_attention historian add material_culture new source_evidence describe historic anglo interaction hold large_collection portuguese ceramic recover archaeologically britain provide_nuanced insight breadth england consumption portuguese good english acquisition portuguese product difficult activity track available document many object flow english market household unrecorded reason trade ceramic discuss aim situate port within complex_network early_modern atlantic_world general factor_influence english acquisition portuguese ceramic also_explore building_upon ceramic case_study broad discussion present engage portugal material socioeconomic influence early_modern atlantic