Women, Wealth, and Business (Milan, Nineteenth Century)

This chapter challenges the long-accepted view that women withdrew from the world of business with the rise of the manufacturing sector. By analyzing the probate records of 47 millionairesses who died in Milan between 1862 and 1900, this research highlights female engagement in trade, finance, and industry and sometimes even in very risky activities such as building speculation. Besides examining the origin and composition of wealthy women’s property, the present work provides insights into the ways these women disposed of their wealth after death and discusses the complexity of their inheritance strategies. Being that the setting of this research is Milan, the chapter also offers the opportunity to narrow the gap between Anglophone and Latin literature on the topic