Nonhuman Primate Trade in the Age of Discoveries: European Importation and Its Consequences

Abstract

The history of interactions between humans and non-human primates is simultaneously complex and fascinating. Since ancient times, human beings have interacted with non-human primates, sometimes shaping the latter populations’ abundance and geographical distribution. In the Age of Discovery (fifteenth and sixteenth centuries) Europeans came in contact with sub-Saharan African and New World primates for the first time and began the first large-scale trade of these primates. They were introduced to Europe in great number being a significant part of the revenue from the trade in natural products with Africa and the Americas. The current work presents the results of a review of literary and iconographic sources of this period which contain data on African and New World primates. These sources suggest that primates were a constant presence and very sought after animals in all the phases of European expansion. They represented an authentic status symbol for nobles and wealthy citizens who used them to underscored their influence, prestige and social position. This work will also include some considerations on the consequence of this trade on primate populations.