Page 90 - 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. 90
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
2.2 Labour obligation of transport as a springboard
for long-distance trade
Several seigniories imposed an obligation on the transport of imported go-
ods on certain tenants.
Gornji Grad. The land register of 1426 contains two lists in relation to
this matter. The first one names five tenants who transported oil and spic-
es from Italy during the time of fasting and the second names tenants who
transported salt. The second one appears to be much more important. The
seigniory transported more than thirty horse loads of salt per year. It is in-
teresting that peasants could buy their way out of such an obligation with
one load of salt, which clearly indicated that they also engaged in salt trade
on their own account (Gestrin 1952–53, 505–6; Orožen 1876, 320–2).
Škofja Loka. In the late Middle Ages the bishops of Freising were reg-
ularly supplied with wine from the Adriatic coast, primarily with rebula/
ribollio, which at the time represented a reasonably important trade com-
modity. The Bavarian Bishopric possessed no estates in the Mediterranean
in the late Middle Ages, where it would engage in its own production of
quality wines. However, it could make use of its posts in Carniola when im-
porting Istrian wine. Every year, a caravan with approximately ten hors-
es left Škofja Loka for Trieste to buy rebula and occasionally also muscat. A
delivery of between 1500 and 2000 litres was brought back to Škofja Loka,
reloaded and usually sent on towards Oberwölz in Upper Styria, where the
administration of the Freising seigniory arranged its transport to the fi-
nal destination (Bizjak 2014, 130). The wine was transported by tenants
as part of their labour duties; in 1501, for instance, the peasants of Bitnje
were charged with transporting wine between Škofja Loka and Mautern-
dorf (Salzburg) (Blaznik 1963, 352). It was also suggested that these caravans
consisted of both tenants and merchants, which would make the introduc-
tion of peasants into trade even easier and more obvious (Blaznik 1973, 93).
Conclusive remarks
As may be concluded, peasant trade was a widespread and well-developed
activity at the end of the Middle Ages. In the search for its origins, one
cannot overlook the institution and organisation of the seigniory, which
during the entire period functioned as its stimulator. One of the main rea-
sons that drove peasants into trade apart from their own needs were dues
in money which they were obliged to pay to their lords.
88
2.2 Labour obligation of transport as a springboard
for long-distance trade
Several seigniories imposed an obligation on the transport of imported go-
ods on certain tenants.
Gornji Grad. The land register of 1426 contains two lists in relation to
this matter. The first one names five tenants who transported oil and spic-
es from Italy during the time of fasting and the second names tenants who
transported salt. The second one appears to be much more important. The
seigniory transported more than thirty horse loads of salt per year. It is in-
teresting that peasants could buy their way out of such an obligation with
one load of salt, which clearly indicated that they also engaged in salt trade
on their own account (Gestrin 1952–53, 505–6; Orožen 1876, 320–2).
Škofja Loka. In the late Middle Ages the bishops of Freising were reg-
ularly supplied with wine from the Adriatic coast, primarily with rebula/
ribollio, which at the time represented a reasonably important trade com-
modity. The Bavarian Bishopric possessed no estates in the Mediterranean
in the late Middle Ages, where it would engage in its own production of
quality wines. However, it could make use of its posts in Carniola when im-
porting Istrian wine. Every year, a caravan with approximately ten hors-
es left Škofja Loka for Trieste to buy rebula and occasionally also muscat. A
delivery of between 1500 and 2000 litres was brought back to Škofja Loka,
reloaded and usually sent on towards Oberwölz in Upper Styria, where the
administration of the Freising seigniory arranged its transport to the fi-
nal destination (Bizjak 2014, 130). The wine was transported by tenants
as part of their labour duties; in 1501, for instance, the peasants of Bitnje
were charged with transporting wine between Škofja Loka and Mautern-
dorf (Salzburg) (Blaznik 1963, 352). It was also suggested that these caravans
consisted of both tenants and merchants, which would make the introduc-
tion of peasants into trade even easier and more obvious (Blaznik 1973, 93).
Conclusive remarks
As may be concluded, peasant trade was a widespread and well-developed
activity at the end of the Middle Ages. In the search for its origins, one
cannot overlook the institution and organisation of the seigniory, which
during the entire period functioned as its stimulator. One of the main rea-
sons that drove peasants into trade apart from their own needs were dues
in money which they were obliged to pay to their lords.
88
