The city of Burgos during the 18th century, after the long decline suffered since the 1570s, recovered a large part of its demographic numbers, experiencing a 42% increase in population between 1752-1787. The economic recovery experienced in the last third of the 17th century shows a scarce presence of merchants that resurfaced in the following century, derived from the advance of agricultural production based on the increase in cultivated land and commercial development with the new export of wool. Analysing the internal structure of the patrimonial wealth, movable goods comprised 79.9% of the total patrimony, directly related to mercantile activity. After the importance of movable goods, explained by the exercise of the activity, in second place comes the possession and exploitation of livestock with 10.7%, dedicated to personal service, preferably mules for travelling. The third position is occupied by dwellings and complementary dependencies that exemplify the interest of the bourgeoisie in a type of investment considered fundamental for establishing and developing their businesses (houses and markets). As in the national average, the acquisition of farmland was of interest, with 4.4% indicating the family’s inclination towards investments considered attractive not only for their degree of security – as far as investment is concerned – but also for their strong social sense as a mirror of business success.
Collection: Statistics
Project: 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity., 4. Family, daily life and social inequality in Europe., 9. Travels and travelers: economic, social and cultural connections.
Chronology: XVIII, XIX
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Link: https://revistas.usal.es/index.php/Studia_Historica/article/view/shhmo2021431407423/26140
Resource type: Statistics
Format: Table
Source: Bartolomé Bartolomé, Juan Manuel, «Las familias de negocios de la ciudad de Burgos a finales del Antiguo Régimen: patrimonios y dinámicas (1700–1850), Studia Histórica, Historia Moderna, vol. 43, nº1 (2021), pp. 407–423.
Language: Spanish
Date: 2021
Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)
Copyright: © Juan Manuel Bartolomé Bartolomé © Revista Studia Historica, Historia Moderna
Abstract: Distribution of wealth in Burgos business families
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