Economic and Social Crisis in Medieval Iberia
Economic and Social Crisis in Medieval Iberia
The Demographic Crisis
Iberia underwent a process of continuous growth since the eleventh century. This growth led to the recruitment and exploitation of lands conquered from the Muslims and fueled the wars of conquest. At the beginning of the 14th century, stagnation occurred, marked by crop failures, land abandonment, and food shortages.
In 1348-1351, the Black Death, originating from Asia, penetrated the Iberian Peninsula along the Mediterranean coast and caused widespread devastation. The population decreased by an estimated 20 to 40%. Fever, an endemic condition, resurfaced every 10 to 12 years. The population decline was particularly severe in Catalonia and northern Castile. In the fifteenth century, the population began to recover, especially in Castile and Valencia. However, the crisis persisted in Catalonia.
The Agrarian Crisis
The majority of the population were peasants. Agricultural practices had hardly changed, still relying on the Roman plow and fallow system. Crop yields were scarce, with almost all production consumed locally. The Black Death significantly impacted agriculture, leading to the abandonment of many villages. Prices rose due to scarcity, and the lack of farmers resulted in increased exploitation. The crisis in the agricultural sector continued into the fifteenth century in Aragon and Catalonia.
The Plateau
From the thirteenth century, sheep farming had dramatically increased in Castile and Aragon. Large herds were owned by powerful individuals who formed a union recognized by Alfonso X, known as the Honourable Council of the Plateau. Grazing areas and roads (ravines) were reserved for transhumance. The interests of these sheep farmers clashed with those of the peasants. The kings protected the interests of the ranchers, who owned large herds and paid substantial taxes on their production.
The cattle boom was driven by the demand for wool from the workshops of Flanders. The demographic crisis facilitated the expansion of livestock because cattle require less manpower. Towns and ports in the north developed around the shearing, transport, and sale of Spanish merino wool.
Crafts
Craft production, primarily oriented towards local consumption, had a relatively low impact on the overall economy. However, some cities experienced a concentration of specific crafts. Leather and ceramics in Valencia, iron in Biscay, and cloth manufacturing were among the most developed. Cloths were produced in Segovia, Cuenca, and Avila, while silk and luxury cloths were produced in Cordoba, Seville, Toledo, and Murcia.
The Crown of Aragon had a significant textile sector, with Barcelona achieving the most notable development in cloth manufacturing. In the late thirteenth century, incentives were implemented to promote local production of wool and linen in Aragon. Catalan cloths became one of the driving forces behind the trade boom of the Aragonese crown.
Production was organized and controlled by guilds, which brought together craftsmen and workshops in different cities. These guilds regulated prices and product quality, limiting competition. Production was largely in the hands of an oligarchy of manufacturers who controlled the establishment of workshops and exerted considerable influence on local governments. The demographic crisis severely affected craft production. In Catalonia, textile production declined, while in Valencia it experienced growth. In Castile, production declined in the mid-fourteenth century but recovered later.
Castilian Trade
Production was primarily intended for local consumption or regional markets. The exchange of goods was common in villages. Despite the crisis, Castile experienced steady growth in commercial activities. The kings promoted trade through protectionist measures favoring Castilian merchants and sailors. The sales tax, a levy on commercial transactions, was the main source of income for the crown.
Fairs, granted to certain cities, were held twice a year and offered tax concessions and facilities to encourage trade and business (e.g., Medina del Campo). Banking and finance developed, although the Spanish currency remained weak. Foreign trade was characterized by the export of raw materials and the import of manufactured goods, luxury items, and artwork. Seville and the Burgos-Bilbao axis were the main ports for the kingdom’s exports and imports.
Trade Boom and Bust in the Crown of Aragon
. The development of trade in Barcelona had a role. In the twelfth and thirteenth century the merchants of Barcelona extended their trade routes eastward. At the end of XIII Barcelona had consuls (political and commercial representatives to other countries) and commercial factories in the Mediterranean, which allowed the Catalan merchants dealing in oriental spices, gold and slaves from north Africa. The city grew thanks to the bourgeoisie, and built the market and busy. Banks appeared and developed credit and bills of exchange or limited partnerships, joint ventures between capitalists and established carriers to travel long distances to trade. Mallorca and Valencia had their own commercial basis. The crown protected the expansion of trade. The University of Prohom the Bank Marine recognized the union locals and I think the Consolat sea commercial court cases. He later settled in Valencia and Mallorca. The Commonwealth of Consolat sea in the middle of XIV became the Commercial Code, a model for many cities in the Mediterranean.