The conference is inspired by recent research conducted on trade tariffs, which has brought to light a type of document produced by the Venetians and largely ignored until today, and which has also led to their publication (in a book edited by Alessio Sopracasa). The conference shall specifically examine the Venetian documents and more generally those produced in the Mediterranean basin, considering such documents as being an expression, sign and instrument of economic, political and cultural exchange, especially between the 14th and 16th centuries. An assessment of the overall balances in the area shall be flanked by a study of the documents that concretely facilitated both economic and trade relations amongst the different areas. The assessment will naturally cover a number of case studies that are interconnected and provide sufficiently broad insight of the links crossing and connecting the Mediterranean basin's economic, political and cultural systems.