Merchant colonies were a significant factor for economic growth in Europe during the early modern period. These colonies increased a country's turnover, boosted profits and developed new forms of economic activity, providing the essential prerequisites for the Industrial Revolution. The essays in this collection look at merchant colonies across Europe, assessing their function, legal status, interaction with local traders and assimilation into their host countries. This is the first study on merchants to cover such a wide geographical and temporal reach and will allow greater contextual understanding of this topic.