Page 178 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 178
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
ced according to market demands, and mountain communities addressed
their commitments in one direction rather than another and were ready
to change strategy, abandoning those already practiced in order to intro-
duce new ones. The case of Pettorano may serve as an example of this abi-
lity of the mountain communities to be flexible in their use of resources.
Set at 625m above sea level in the foothills of the Maiella, it is a typical ag-
ropastoral community constantly present in the customs records at Fog-
gia Customs (Marino 1988, 463). However, it boasted a modest contribution
to sheep transhumance, and a varied range of other activities were requi-
red for subsistence (Mattiocco and De Panfilis 1989, 133–6). Between the 16th
and 19th centuries this small centre produced raw materials such as charco-
al, hemp, linen, cocoons and saffron; semi-processed products such as silk
yarn, and finished products such as ceramics, tiles, and bricks. The Gizio ri-
verside became home to mills, fulling mills for cloth, and a copper foundry
(De Stephanis 2008, 43). All the products were meant for market, and acti-
vities were combined in various ways to preserve livelihood. The fact that
there was a greater number of variables to bring into play, allowed the mo-
untain dwellers to face crises, gaining an advantage over the other non-mo-
untainous areas.
Picture 7.2: ‘Veduta di Pettorano dalla consolare’ (De Stephanis 2008, 48)
The second aspect concerns the possibility of assessing resilience at
a time of economic crisis. An indicator of the degree of resilience can be
176
ced according to market demands, and mountain communities addressed
their commitments in one direction rather than another and were ready
to change strategy, abandoning those already practiced in order to intro-
duce new ones. The case of Pettorano may serve as an example of this abi-
lity of the mountain communities to be flexible in their use of resources.
Set at 625m above sea level in the foothills of the Maiella, it is a typical ag-
ropastoral community constantly present in the customs records at Fog-
gia Customs (Marino 1988, 463). However, it boasted a modest contribution
to sheep transhumance, and a varied range of other activities were requi-
red for subsistence (Mattiocco and De Panfilis 1989, 133–6). Between the 16th
and 19th centuries this small centre produced raw materials such as charco-
al, hemp, linen, cocoons and saffron; semi-processed products such as silk
yarn, and finished products such as ceramics, tiles, and bricks. The Gizio ri-
verside became home to mills, fulling mills for cloth, and a copper foundry
(De Stephanis 2008, 43). All the products were meant for market, and acti-
vities were combined in various ways to preserve livelihood. The fact that
there was a greater number of variables to bring into play, allowed the mo-
untain dwellers to face crises, gaining an advantage over the other non-mo-
untainous areas.
Picture 7.2: ‘Veduta di Pettorano dalla consolare’ (De Stephanis 2008, 48)
The second aspect concerns the possibility of assessing resilience at
a time of economic crisis. An indicator of the degree of resilience can be
176
