Marcara Avanchintz: Story of An Armenian Merchant

In this fascinating biography of a 17th-century Armenian merchant, Dr. Baghdiantz McCabe reveals the significance and expert reputation of Armenians in world trade. Hired by the Minister of Finance of King Louis XIV to co-direct the French East India Company, Marcara Avanchintz was instrumental in opening India to French trade. The events that followed illustrate the extent of the New Julfan Armenian trade network, reaching from the gem trade in India to the royal court in Versailles.

Originally published August 2018.

About the speaker

Ina Baghdiantz McCabe

Dr. Ina Baghdiantz McCabe is a Professor of history and the first holder of the Darakjian and Jafarian Chair in Armenian History at Tufts University. She is the author and editor of several books and numerous articles. Her publications have been on different themes, the merchants of New Julfa, the silk trade, the spice trade, slavery, diaspora, travelers and orientalism, yet they are all transregional studies which focus on economic and intellectual exchanges within Eurasia in the early modern period. Her work has been supported by several fellowships, including one at the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard.

Ina Baghdiantz McCabe