In the thirteenth century, a Jewish community existed in Durrës and was employed in the salt trade. In Vlorë during 1426, the Ottomans supported the settlement of a Jewish community involved in mercantile activities. The Vlorë community underwent population growth in subsequent decades with Jews migrating from Corfu, Venetian ruled lands, Naples, France and the Iberian Peninsula. The Ottoman state settled Jewish expellees in Vlorë toward the latter part of the fifteenth century following their expulsion and arrival from Spain. The Spanish expulsions also resulted in the formation of a Jewish community in Ottoman Berat that consisted of 25 families between 1519–1520.