Distribution of foreign textiles through the port of Bilbao between 1710-1714

The resource deals with the distribution of foreign fabrics imported from the port of Bilbao during 1710 and 1714, the years in which the War of the Spanish Succession took place. Fabrics destined for Madrid and Toledo paid customs duties in Valmaseda, Orduña, while those bound for the Cantabrian mountain range did so in Vitoria. Taxes were directly proportional to the quality of the fabric: the higher the quality, the higher the tax. From the port of Bilbao they were distributed to wide areas of the peninsular monarchy: the Upper Ebro Valley, the Duero Valley, the Iberian System, Logroño, Soria and Toledo as its extreme points. Where did most of the textiles come from? In the years prior to the war, Holland and England were the two largest exporters (90% of the linen came from Holland). The Royal Order of 3 December 1710 prohibited the importation of Dutch fabrics, thus favouring the British. In the distribution network, Madrid, Toledo, Segovia and Valladolid were the provinces with the highest import ratio, followed by Ávila, Burgos, Palencia, Soria and Logroño. The authors warn us that, due to the war situation, the distribution could have altered with respect to previous years. The Royal Treasury tried to reduce some costs by suspending the payment of pensions, subsidies and other benefits, or by delaying the payment of bureaucratic salaries; this meant that certain privileged groups saw their incomes reduced. At the same time, in Castilian territory, the tax burden on the population was increased. The high taxes and reduced purchasing power led to a lower demand for foreign fabrics.

Collection: Images

Project: 0. What is Europe? The European Spaces in the history of Europe., 2. Social and economic impact of technological revolutions in Europe., 9. Travels and travelers: economic, social and cultural connections.

Chronology: XVIII

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://e-archivo.uc3m.es/bitstream/handle/10016/27375/RHE-2013-XXXI-Fernandez.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Resource type: Image

Format: Map

Source: Fernández-De-Pinedo Echevarría, N., y Fernández-De-Pinedo Fernández, E. (2013). "Distribution of English textiles in the Spanish market at the beginning of the 18th century", en Revista de Historia Económica, vol. 31, nº 2, p. 260.

Language: English

Date: 2013

Owner: Pablo Ballesta Fernández (Modernalia)

Abstract: Map of the distribution of the foreign fabric in Castile during the context of the War of Succession to the Spanish throne. Casuistry that had an impact on lower demand

Image