Towards the end of the 15th century Muslims and Jews began leaving Spain and Portugal to flee the Inquisition. Many of them, especially those of Andalusan origin, settled in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya). The Marranos settled in Italy, particularly in Livorno. The Grand Charter granted by the Grand Duke of Tuscany allowed them to play a major role in the economic and commercial sectors there. In the early 17th century a majority of them, especially bankers and traders, moved to Tunisia. They lived in an area which became known as Hara and set up shop in an adjoining souk which was thereafter called souk al Grana (plural of gourni meaning native of Livorno). Quite naturally they soon had a monopoly over trade with Livorno to which they exported local agricultural products and handicrafts (wool products, chechia…) and products coming from Black Africa (ostrich feathers and fat, ivory, gold powder, incense) and from which they imported raw materials, dyes and manufactured products such as sheets, silk goods, luxury cloth, brass, tin, sugar, spices…