Against all Odds: Italian Traders’ Political and Economic Response to the mid-14th Century Crisis of the Golden Horde

The 14th century is traditionally associated with crises, upheavals, and shifting power dynamics in Europe and Asia. During this period, Italian traders, predominantly from the maritime powers of Venice and Genoa, remained in the lands of the Golden Horde, demonstrating resilience and adaptability. By the second half of the century, the Golden Horde faced internal strife, external threats, and the impending collapse of Mongol authority. Undeterred by the crisis, Italian traders navigated the complex geopolitical landscape, forged alliances, and adapted their trade strategies to suit the prevailing circumstances. However, despite moments of tension and rupture, their presence and the maintenance of a thriving trade would not have been possible without reciprocity of interests and a willingness on the Mongol side to encourage and foster trade.
This paper sheds light on the encounter of two wills in a period from cooperation to burst and from burst to reshaping of relationships. It illustrates the response of Italian merchants, particularly Venetians, to the political changes that took place in the Ulus Jochi from the 1330s to the 1380s, from the climax of European presence in the territories of the Western Mongol Empire to the severe mid-century political crisis, prelude to the gradual disintegration of the Golden Horde’s authority.