Capitalism 12

The barbarian princes cannot prevent their subjects from trading with the Spanish, and the Kings of Spain on their side cannot forbid the Spanish to trade with the Indians.

Vitorias Schrift (1532): The First Relectio of the Reverend Father, Brother Franciscus de Victoria, On the Indians Lately Discovered.

Francisco de Vitoria (1483 – 1546) was a Catholic moral theologian, Dominican friar and teacher of natural law. He taught at various universities in Spain and expressed himself in his writings on political issues such as conquests and trade in the Americas. De Vitoria was central to the development of the concepts of "freedom of trade" and "freedom of the seas" (for trade).

The right and freedom to travel and trade are seen by de Vitoria as fundamental principles of a natural right. The rights of merchants were placed above any restrictions and protectionism (protection against the import of goods) by noble rulers (princes). However, trade relations were by no means relations between equals. The gold and silver that (according to de Vitoria) ‘the natives have in abundance’ were first obtained through environmentally destructive mining and forced labour, which was dangerous and degrading for workers. German traders and princes even had private colonies in Latin America, Africa and Asia or were involved in the slave trade (Potts 1988: 18). For example, Großfriedrichsburg, in present-day Ghana was a colony of the Great Elector Jakob von Kurland in the 17th century. From 1528 to 1558, Venezuela was a local colony of the Welsers bank (Reader der AG: 4ff.).

*Antony T. Anghie (2005): Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. *Lydia Potts (1988): Weltmarkt für Arbeitskraft. Hamburg: Junius. *AG Weiße deutsche Frauen und Kolonialismus: „Weiße deutsche Frauen & Kolonialismus – Reader zu einer Veranstaltung.“ C/o Infoladen. Kleiner Schäferkamp 46. 20357 Hamburg.

1532