The port of Saint Thomas
its flows, shipping companies and steamship routes from 1865 to 1900
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46661/americania.13046Keywords:
Caribbean, Atlantic route, Free port, Commercial networks, Shipping companiesAbstract
The port of Saint Thomas was a key hub of Caribbean trade in the 19th century, standing out as a free port and center of regional and international connections. This study employed a historical-analytical approach based on primary sources such as the Pilot Journal and period newspapers, along with specialized literature, to examine port dynamics between 1865 and 1900. Saint Thomas operated as a redistribution center that articulated dense trade networks, predominantly inter-Caribbean connections. The rise of steamships, the presence of large shipping companies, and smuggling strengthened its economic activity and logistical role. The study demonstrates that free ports were fundamental to the integration of the Caribbean into global trade. Despite technological and geopolitical changes, Saint Thomas maintained its relevance, highlighting the importance of small ports in the Atlantic economy.
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