The merchants of Boyacá (Colombia): a perspective based on notarial records (1900-1920)

Abstract

The present work analyzes in what way the groups of merchants of Boyacáorganized their social networks to develop and consolidate their economic activitiesduring the first half of the 20th century. The research starts from the hypothesis thatthe Boyacá economic groups became an axis of appropriation of territory by organizingdominant and integrating networks and by forming mercantile links with other regionalmerchants. It examines initially the family origin and the commercial trajectories ofsocieties, then presents the main commercial circuits connected to the various nationalcommunication channels and ends by analyzing the strategies used by these societies andother groups of merchants to associate and facilitate control over regional and nationalbusinesses. Methodologically, this research uses the concept of productive and businessfabric, proposed by Mario Cerutti, as a tool to investigate on the basis of notarial registersthe regional organization and the social framework of said merchants.