Tenerife - History Lab

Evolution of the rate of rent for the fortunes of Dehesa de La Laguna (1712-1769).

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:48 +0000

The generalisation of long-term leases in the 17th century led to a relaxation of the pressure on the Cabildo’s tenants of the dehesa. The behaviour of agrarian rent in the middle of the century shows a moderate fall in the rate in the last two leases, which is not in line with the national upward trend from 1754-1774. The lease system inaugurated in 1712 maintained long leases fixed in six-year periods, but spurred strong competition in the auctions. For the 18th century we do not have the sown area because we do not know the number of suertes dedicated to private pastures: the calculations are based on cultivated area. Despite the discrepancy in the indicators, the income per unit of sown area did not reach the extreme values that occurred in the middle of the 16th century, despite the agricultural improvement and the increase in the agricultural product. The Cabildo managed to increase its gross income compared to the most lucrative auctions of the 16th century, which was really important for the corporation. In the mid-16th century, the income from the dehesa amounted to 4,000 bushels of wheat, and the auctions of 1712-1769 were between 5,315 and 6,782 bushels, without taking into account the exaggerated decline of the 1728 auction.

The post Evolution of the rate of rent for the fortunes of Dehesa de La Laguna (1712-1769). first appeared on History Lab.

Seasonality of foundling mortality in Tenerife, 1752-1794

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:41 +0000

The behaviour of the mortality of foundlings in Tenerife was conditioned by the passing of the seasons, as during the harshest months of the year, in winter and summer, temperatures reached their extremes on the island and a higher mortality of abandoned children was recorded. Accordingly, in January there was an increase in the number of deaths due to respiratory illnesses (colds and flus), aggravated by the poor condition in which the children arrived at the centre after their journey. In spring, on the other hand, there was a slight decrease in mortality, favoured by the improvement in temperatures where conditions between abandonment and transfer to the crèche were more favourable. However, particularly in July, the number of deaths increased due to infectious diseases and the harshness of the conditions in which remission took place. After the summer heat, in autumn and at the beginning of winter, the number of deaths stabilised. At this level, and in relation to the particularities of the island’s economic and social life, parallels can be found with the situation experienced in Salamanca, London and Florence.

The post Seasonality of foundling mortality in Tenerife, 1752-1794 first appeared on History Lab.

Progressive mortality (%) of foundlings in La Laguna (Tenerife) during the first years of life, 1752-1780

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:41 +0000

The high mortality rate of foundlings recorded in 18th century Tenerife at the Casa de la Cuna de La Laguna was not so much due to the poor physical conditions in which they arrived at the institution as to the fragility and continuing economic hardship. These determined, for example, the absence of internal milkmaids, which meant that the children had to wait for one or more days until they were handed over to the external milkmaids. On the other hand, the mere exchange of the administrator resulted in the emergence of internal problems in the functioning of the incluse, such as the under-recording of infant mortality. The institution’s economic and administrative fragility must have been external, with a strong impact on the chances of survival of the children in its care.

The post Progressive mortality (%) of foundlings in La Laguna (Tenerife) during the first years of life, 1752-1780 first appeared on History Lab.

The population of La Laguna (Tenerife) according to tazmias of the 16th century

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:02 +0000

In the mid-16th century, it can be seen how the Cabildo sought to direct the offer of land to the small peasantry in order to increase the number of participants in the auctions. The most reliable population figures for the city indicate that the annual rate of population growth was particularly strong in the 1550s, coinciding with the high rents reached by the council lots and the complaints of the farmers about the auction system. It is not known at present when the demographic pressure eased, although it probably continued until the plague epidemic of 1582-1583, which was a great blow to the city and was reflected in the negative rate of the following intercensal period. Thus, between 1531-1592, the population of La Laguna varied slightly from the second half of the century onwards, maintaining very similar levels that reached their maximum in 1559.

The post The population of La Laguna (Tenerife) according to tazmias of the 16th century first appeared on History Lab.