Brotherhood or Guild? Solidarity, Mutuality and Representation among Confraternities, Assistance and Communities in Modern Age Naples

Brotherhoods and guilds formed a pervasive social system, while religious practices, associations and 'shrines' embodied national or devotional communities. The terminology referring to these sodalities could be polysemous. However, that did not mean that the world it described lacked distinctness. Rather, it showed these organizations' capacity to adapt to real life in a changing society, rethinking themselves, joining groups and converting purposes. In fact, the goals of these institutions could overlap, pursuing synergies or conflicts. Therefore, mutualism, devotions and solidarity gave shape to social control, a form of control which could be harsh or not, but was always pervasive. Thus, brotherhoods, guilds, shelters and nations (nationes) aggregating around the cult of a patron saint shaped Neapolitan life, sealing classes, powers and behaviors. De facto, these experiences became poles of identity, pursuing social projects in the name of public welfare and of shared visions.