Castellón - History Lab https://historylab.es Fri, 20 May 2022 07:58:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://historylab.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-icono-historylab-32x32.jpg Castellón - History Lab https://historylab.es 32 32 Trade and crafts in northern Valencia at the end of the Middle Ages (13th-15th centuries) https://historylab.es/trade-and-crafts-in-northern-valencia-at-the-end-of-the-middle-ages-13th-15th-centuries/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trade-and-crafts-in-northern-valencia-at-the-end-of-the-middle-ages-13th-15th-centuries Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:31:14 +0000 https://historylab.es/2022/02/19/comercio-y-artesania-en-el-norte-valenciano-a-finales-de-la-edad-media-siglos-xiii-xv/ Market and craft economy in the north of Valencia in rural and urban areas

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]]> During the late Middle Ages, or Late Middle Ages (13th-15th centuries), the predominance of the agricultural economy everywhere coexisted with the rise of mercantile and craft activities, in both absolute and relative terms. This development took place in the large cities of the period, but also in those areas that maintained a clearly rural or, at most, semi-urban physiognomy. In the Iberian Peninsula, for example, this is the case of the northern regions of the old kingdom of Valencia, which make up the present-day province of Castellón. They were the site of medium-sized or small population centres for the size of the time: the so-called “places” or villas. The largest agglomerations were in Castellón (on the coast) and Morella (inland), with population levels that in the 15th century exceeded 500 “fuegos” or tax households. In both towns, and in other smaller ones, a large number and variety of craft and mercantile trades were defined. The former were essentially grouped around the textile, leather and pottery sectors. The latter found their maximum expression through the buying and selling activities carried out in the markets and fairs that were gradually created from the 13th century onwards, but also in the coastal ports (carregadors or cargaderos) that allowed the area to be included in maritime import and export itineraries. The attached map illustrates all these issues and reproduces what could be a kind of economic geography of northern Valencia at the end of the Middle Ages, thanks also to the establishment of different overland communication and transport routes. The most important ones were in the south (around the rivers Palancia and Mijares or Millars), in the far north (between Lower Aragon and the coast, connected even with Tortosa) and along the entire Mediterranean coast (largely following the route of the ancient Roman Via Augusta).

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]]> Demographic evolution of a Valencian town, according to the number of tax households (“focs”) declared in the morabatí tax: Almazora, 1373-1529 https://historylab.es/demographic-evolution-of-a-valencian-town-according-to-the-number-of-tax-households-focs-declared-in-the-morabati-tax-almazora-1373-1529/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=demographic-evolution-of-a-valencian-town-according-to-the-number-of-tax-households-focs-declared-in-the-morabati-tax-almazora-1373-1529 Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:31 +0000 https://historylab.es/2022/02/19/evolucion-demografica-de-una-villa-valenciana-segun-el-numero-de-hogares-fiscales-focs-declarados-en-el-impuesto-del-morabati-almazora-1373-1529/ Demographic evolution in Almazora (Valencia) and its harmony with the region

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]]> Between the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of Modernity, the town of Almazora had a low population despite being a considerable centre of agricultural resources. The decreasing trend since the late Middle Ages can be observed through the tax records known as “llibres del morabatí” (morabatí books); a tax that the wealthiest family units (focs) paid every 7 years. According to these records, the population decreased in proportion to the instability of the area. From the general period of population loss between 1373 and 1529, there were two distinct phases. The first corresponds to the end of the 14th century until the first years of the 15th century. The second phase began in the 1420s with an abrupt decline until it recovered slightly at the beginning of the 16th century. These demographic dynamics are in line with those of the region: Castellón, Onda, Villarreal and Burriana show similar behaviour.

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