Page 100 - 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. 100
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
for example attested by the farm Asquini in Fagagna next to the hilly area
(Morassi 1992) or, at the beginning of the 19th century, by Gherardo Freschi
in Sesto al Reghena on the fertile plain to the right of the Tagliamento riv-
er (Zanier 1998; Bianco 2012).
Even though agricultural economy was by far the prevailing econom-
ic activity and it usually guaranteed self-sufficiency or even a surplus des-
tined to the market, there existed also other activities destined to hand-
icraft. These activities, however, were often not autochthonous. On the
Friulian plain, for example, textile activities at the local level were carried
out by seasonal immigrants coming from the mountains. The market of
reference for other handicraft needs was the urban market, where most of
the secondary sector was concentrated.
Another important aspect to outline in the characteristics of agricul-
tural society on the Friulian plain is the structure of the family. Taking
into account the different variants which can be observed in the territo-
ry,4 the extended family was quite widespread on the Friulian plain, which
family consisted of a large number of components: brothers living togeth-
er with wives and children, often led by the patriarch (Morassi 1985; Bosco
and Deganutti 1986). In a similar context, where family groups were rela-
tively few compared to the number of inhabitants, few were also the house-
holders, and therefore the people who were tasked with making decisions
in this domain.
The distribution of tasks within the family always took place inside the
agricultural activity, with a substantial subordination of females to males.
We might sum up in a diagram (see Diagram 4.1) the main characteristics
of agricultural society on the Friulian plain and consider it on the basis of
it being open to an integrated peasant economy.
The combination of these characteristics and of these limitations lead
in this specific context to low levels of personal freedom. On the plain, as
a consequence, those individuals who could make autonomous decisions
were relatively few.
On the contrary, in the mountainous area of Friuli, agricultural activi-
ty represented only a minor portion of the economy. Since the Middle Ages,
vast regions of the Alpine area could guarantee the population’s subsistence
for only a few months every year. In order to remedy this shortage of food-
stuffs these areas had to import some products, especially cereals from the
4 In Friuli there is a delay on these studies due to the lack of specific sources, like for
example the Status animarum; see Fornasin and Veronese 1999.
98
for example attested by the farm Asquini in Fagagna next to the hilly area
(Morassi 1992) or, at the beginning of the 19th century, by Gherardo Freschi
in Sesto al Reghena on the fertile plain to the right of the Tagliamento riv-
er (Zanier 1998; Bianco 2012).
Even though agricultural economy was by far the prevailing econom-
ic activity and it usually guaranteed self-sufficiency or even a surplus des-
tined to the market, there existed also other activities destined to hand-
icraft. These activities, however, were often not autochthonous. On the
Friulian plain, for example, textile activities at the local level were carried
out by seasonal immigrants coming from the mountains. The market of
reference for other handicraft needs was the urban market, where most of
the secondary sector was concentrated.
Another important aspect to outline in the characteristics of agricul-
tural society on the Friulian plain is the structure of the family. Taking
into account the different variants which can be observed in the territo-
ry,4 the extended family was quite widespread on the Friulian plain, which
family consisted of a large number of components: brothers living togeth-
er with wives and children, often led by the patriarch (Morassi 1985; Bosco
and Deganutti 1986). In a similar context, where family groups were rela-
tively few compared to the number of inhabitants, few were also the house-
holders, and therefore the people who were tasked with making decisions
in this domain.
The distribution of tasks within the family always took place inside the
agricultural activity, with a substantial subordination of females to males.
We might sum up in a diagram (see Diagram 4.1) the main characteristics
of agricultural society on the Friulian plain and consider it on the basis of
it being open to an integrated peasant economy.
The combination of these characteristics and of these limitations lead
in this specific context to low levels of personal freedom. On the plain, as
a consequence, those individuals who could make autonomous decisions
were relatively few.
On the contrary, in the mountainous area of Friuli, agricultural activi-
ty represented only a minor portion of the economy. Since the Middle Ages,
vast regions of the Alpine area could guarantee the population’s subsistence
for only a few months every year. In order to remedy this shortage of food-
stuffs these areas had to import some products, especially cereals from the
4 In Friuli there is a delay on these studies due to the lack of specific sources, like for
example the Status animarum; see Fornasin and Veronese 1999.
98
