The economy experienced growth in the Crown of Castile during the transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age. The statistics and merchant trajectories of its four main cities (Burgos, Valladolid, Toledo and Seville) reflect this. Burgos, despite having a population of 10,000 inhabitants, its geopolitical and economic power meant that its merchants were the most powerful in the whole of Castile. These merchant families perpetuated themselves in the trade and predominated in finance and business. They took advantage of their influence to assert themselves in the organs of local power and became part of the dominant oligarchy. They also developed marriage policies to reproduce themselves socially and maintain their privileges. The merchants of other cities such as Toledo or Seville followed similar dynamics to gain access to the local oligarchies, although on most occasions they found themselves unable to gain access to power and were left in a situation of subordination. Another causality in the actions of the merchants can be found in Valladolid. Although it had a population of 30,000 and considerable economic activity, its merchants were not able to gain access to local power so easily, as the oligarchy was more determined to avoid the interference of external agents who could displace them, directing their influence to other parts of the Peninsula.
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: XV, XVI
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Resource type: Statistics
Format: Table
Source: Igual Luis, D. (2018). “Merchant Groups and Urban Oligarchies in Late Medieval Castile: Different Models of Interrelationship?”, comunicación presentada a la European Social Science History Conference (sesión Urban Hierarchisation Process in Castile. Late Medieval and Early Modern Period, organizada por María Asenjo González), Belfast, publicada por vía electrónica a través de Researchgate, p. 3.
Language: English
Date: 2018
Owner: Pablo Ballesta Fernández (Modernalia)
Copyright: © Brepols © David Igual Luis
Abstract: Economic and commercial growth led to the emergence of a thriving merchant class in Castile. Articulation of trade around the cities.
Tags
BurgosComerciantesMercaderesMovilidad socialOligarquía localReproducción socialSevillaToledoTransiciónValladolid
