Visualizations atlas
Map of the provinces investigated : Poitou, Aunis, Saintonge, Angoumois (PASA)
Map of PASA region ports
Map of customs offices in the PASA region
The decline of the La Rochelle region following the loss of Canada
Highly specialized ports: the slave trade, the salt trade, and the brandy trade
La Rochelle, a dominating port but not a regional hub
Products with the highest export value in 1789: comparison between the La Rochelle customs region and the French average
Evolution of the share of La Rochelle trade in relation to France as a whole
Home country of ships departing from the region in 1789
Home ports of ships departing from the PASA region in 1789
Destinations of ships sailing from the PASA region to another country in 1789
Home port of ships sailing to another country in 1789
Share of French navigation in the region
Comparison of colonial, local, and other exports by customs office
Flows of ships outfitted by the port of La Rochelle in 1787
Ports of departure of vessels transporting salt in 1789 from the PASA region, aggregated by cumulative tonnage
Destination of ships departing from Marennes in 1789, aggregated by country and by cumulative tonnage
Evolution of brandy exports from the La Rochelle customs region (free ports not included)
Comparison of brandy exports from different customs regions (free ports not included - no data for Montpellier in 1770)
Origin of brandy exports from the La Rochelle customs region in 1789 (free ports not included)
Maps of ships leaving Marennes with salt in 1789, sized by cumulative tonnage
Products with the highest export value in 1789: comparison between the La Rochelle customs region and the French average
How were the data and visualization produced ?
Data for this chart was drawn from the Toflit18 database. After isolating the relevant flows at national and local level, the products were aggregated using the Toflit18 "Revolution & Empire" classification, and their share was calculated in the total exports of the La Rochelle customs region on the one hand, and of France as a whole on the other.<br> Exports to free ports were not included in the calculations for this visual.
How to read the visualization?
This chart compares the share of the main categories of products exported from the La Rochelle customs region with the national average. We note the importance of brandy and salt exports from the la Rochelle customs region. We also note that this region was close to the national average as regards exports of colonial products (sugar, indigo, and coffee: for coffee, it was a little above average) and cotton fabric (mainly for trade). However, the region did not export much hemp or linen fabric. Other goods that held a large share in French exports but do not appear in this chart are silks and wool fabric. The exports from the La Rochelle customs offices included less manufactured products than those of France in general. The "Art and natural history objects" mentioned here are cowries or shells used for the slave trade.