ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
Crown of Castilla
Crown of Aragón
The exportation of wool was very important.
Transhumance livestock farming developed.
The shepherds migrated with their flocks of sheep between seasons in search of new pastures.
The flocks travelled along paths protected by the crown called cañadas reales.
As the Catholic Monarchs received taxes from the wool trade,
they gave numerous privileges to the association of shepherds that controlled this activity.
Honrado Concejo de la Mesta
Burgos Consulate was founded to control the exportation of wool
1493
From the Cantabrian ports
To textile industries in Flanders and England.
Spanish textile industries
Developed enough to cover the domestic demands.
Agriculture suffered
The increase in livestock farming.
The amount of pasture land increased, replacing the land dedicated to growing crops.
The main source of wealth was precious metals (gold and silver) from the Americas
16th century
Crisis of the 16th century
Provoked an increase in the abuses of the nobility
"feudal abuses"
As the number of available resources declined.
War of Remences
Trade in the Mediterranean
benefitted from the incorporation of Italian territories into the Crown of Aragón.
Main ports were Barcelona and Valencia
Trade
Beneffited:
Textile industries
Shipbuilding
The monarchs protected local industries by placing taxes or duties on foreign products.