Page 102 - 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. 102
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
zo factory (Banelli 1984; 1987; Mainardis 1986; Morassi 1997, 317–60; Feri-
go and Lorenzini 2006, 30–7). The same firm employed a large number of
female home workers, dedicated to spinning (Gri 1985: Morassi 1990). The
particular environment of the mountains allowed also the exploitment of
forests for timber and of common lands for breeding (Bianco 1985; Loren-
zini 2011). The existence of these resources, almost entirely missing on the
Friulian plain, had given rise to a distribution of the occupations on a ter-
ritorial basis. In fact, not only Carnia’s inhabitants exploited these resourc-
es, but mostly also workers coming from other Alpine valleys (Ferigo 1997;
Lorenzini 2007b).
From the point of view of the demographic structure, the average
size of families was smaller compared to those on the plain. There also ex-
isted bigger family groups, but they were less common than on the plain
(Catelan 2002).5
Again, we can assess the openness of the mountains to the integrated
peasant economy with a diagram (see Diagram 4.2).
Diagram 4.2: Main socio-economic characteristics of a village in the mountains; Friuli,
15th–18th centuries
Economy Small trade or handicraft = Mobility
Local administration Village community = Autonomy
Land property Universal = Property
Contracts - = Autonomy
Family Small = Relatively large number of decision makers
The combination of these characteristics entailed, in this specific con-
text, high levels of personal freedom and a higher number of individuals
able to make autonomous decisions.
Thanks to this comparison, we can draw a first, short conclusion. The
degrees of autonomy were quite low in the villages on the plain, whereby
they were relatively high in the mountains. The latter, therefore, enjoyed a
higher degree of flexibility both on an individual and on a collective level.
Consequently, the mountainous area was a more favourable environment
for the integrated peasant economy.
5 For a comparison with the entire eastern Alpine area, see Albera 2011, 233–40.
100
zo factory (Banelli 1984; 1987; Mainardis 1986; Morassi 1997, 317–60; Feri-
go and Lorenzini 2006, 30–7). The same firm employed a large number of
female home workers, dedicated to spinning (Gri 1985: Morassi 1990). The
particular environment of the mountains allowed also the exploitment of
forests for timber and of common lands for breeding (Bianco 1985; Loren-
zini 2011). The existence of these resources, almost entirely missing on the
Friulian plain, had given rise to a distribution of the occupations on a ter-
ritorial basis. In fact, not only Carnia’s inhabitants exploited these resourc-
es, but mostly also workers coming from other Alpine valleys (Ferigo 1997;
Lorenzini 2007b).
From the point of view of the demographic structure, the average
size of families was smaller compared to those on the plain. There also ex-
isted bigger family groups, but they were less common than on the plain
(Catelan 2002).5
Again, we can assess the openness of the mountains to the integrated
peasant economy with a diagram (see Diagram 4.2).
Diagram 4.2: Main socio-economic characteristics of a village in the mountains; Friuli,
15th–18th centuries
Economy Small trade or handicraft = Mobility
Local administration Village community = Autonomy
Land property Universal = Property
Contracts - = Autonomy
Family Small = Relatively large number of decision makers
The combination of these characteristics entailed, in this specific con-
text, high levels of personal freedom and a higher number of individuals
able to make autonomous decisions.
Thanks to this comparison, we can draw a first, short conclusion. The
degrees of autonomy were quite low in the villages on the plain, whereby
they were relatively high in the mountains. The latter, therefore, enjoyed a
higher degree of flexibility both on an individual and on a collective level.
Consequently, the mountainous area was a more favourable environment
for the integrated peasant economy.
5 For a comparison with the entire eastern Alpine area, see Albera 2011, 233–40.
100
