Page 54 - 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. 54
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
1. An introduction to Slovenian historiography of the peasant
trade and other non-agricultural activities
The involvement of the peasant population in non-agricultural activities
was rather widespread in Slovenian lands. In Early Modern times, a lar-
ge segment of the Slovenian agrarian population already began to offer its
produce, products and services at local and cross-border markets, and on
short-distance and long-distance trade routes. The origins of the scientific
study of this important part of agrarian history, date back to the time of re-
search into urban or non-agrarian economy in the first half of the 20th cen-
tury (Gestrin 1982b, 205), when the topical subject was the opposition to ru-
ral trade from the townsfolk (e.g. Zwitter 1929; Žontar 1939, reissue 1982).
More in-depth research on the topic of peasant trade and transport in Slo-
venian lands was contributed by the Slovenian historian, Gestrin in the
1960s. In parallel with his research, other works were being written, which
indirectly discussed the “supplementary” activities of the peasant popula-
tion. These are mostly works on the topic of local history, studies of other
aspects of Slovenian history, and general histories in encyclopaedic style
(e.g. Blaznik 1973; Grafenauer 1962; Blaznik et al. 1970, 1980; Čepič et al.
1979). Recently, there has been a revived interest in researching this part of
agrarian history, which researchers are now tackling with new methodolo-
gical approaches and comparative analysis within the regions of the Alps
and western Europe (Panjek 2011; 2014; 2015a).
The first to describe economic activities practised by the peasantry in
the Modern Era was the Carniolan nobleman Janez Vajkard Valvasor. In
his comprehensive work The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola from 1689, he
thoroughly recorded and studied natural, historical and cultural elements
of the Carniola region. Among the many things he wrote about, he also in-
cluded activities with which peasants integrated their sources of income.
His descriptions are still an important source for research into Slovenian
history and will be presented in greater detail later on.
Basic research of the history of non-agricultural activities of the peas-
ant population and of “early capitalism” in Slovenian lands was conduct-
ed by Ferdo Gestrin.1 While researching the economy and society of Slove-
nian provinces in the Early Modern Era, he focused on trade, investments
of commercial – mostly foreign – capital, commercial exchanges between
Slovenian hinterland and littoral towns, the types of commercial goods,
1 See works by Gestrin 1962; 1963; 1965; 1972; 1973a; 1973b; 1973c; 1973d; 1982a; 1982b;
1991; etc.
52
1. An introduction to Slovenian historiography of the peasant
trade and other non-agricultural activities
The involvement of the peasant population in non-agricultural activities
was rather widespread in Slovenian lands. In Early Modern times, a lar-
ge segment of the Slovenian agrarian population already began to offer its
produce, products and services at local and cross-border markets, and on
short-distance and long-distance trade routes. The origins of the scientific
study of this important part of agrarian history, date back to the time of re-
search into urban or non-agrarian economy in the first half of the 20th cen-
tury (Gestrin 1982b, 205), when the topical subject was the opposition to ru-
ral trade from the townsfolk (e.g. Zwitter 1929; Žontar 1939, reissue 1982).
More in-depth research on the topic of peasant trade and transport in Slo-
venian lands was contributed by the Slovenian historian, Gestrin in the
1960s. In parallel with his research, other works were being written, which
indirectly discussed the “supplementary” activities of the peasant popula-
tion. These are mostly works on the topic of local history, studies of other
aspects of Slovenian history, and general histories in encyclopaedic style
(e.g. Blaznik 1973; Grafenauer 1962; Blaznik et al. 1970, 1980; Čepič et al.
1979). Recently, there has been a revived interest in researching this part of
agrarian history, which researchers are now tackling with new methodolo-
gical approaches and comparative analysis within the regions of the Alps
and western Europe (Panjek 2011; 2014; 2015a).
The first to describe economic activities practised by the peasantry in
the Modern Era was the Carniolan nobleman Janez Vajkard Valvasor. In
his comprehensive work The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola from 1689, he
thoroughly recorded and studied natural, historical and cultural elements
of the Carniola region. Among the many things he wrote about, he also in-
cluded activities with which peasants integrated their sources of income.
His descriptions are still an important source for research into Slovenian
history and will be presented in greater detail later on.
Basic research of the history of non-agricultural activities of the peas-
ant population and of “early capitalism” in Slovenian lands was conduct-
ed by Ferdo Gestrin.1 While researching the economy and society of Slove-
nian provinces in the Early Modern Era, he focused on trade, investments
of commercial – mostly foreign – capital, commercial exchanges between
Slovenian hinterland and littoral towns, the types of commercial goods,
1 See works by Gestrin 1962; 1963; 1965; 1972; 1973a; 1973b; 1973c; 1973d; 1982a; 1982b;
1991; etc.
52
