3. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN ARAGÓN THE ECONOMY OF HE CROWN OF ARAGÓN - The Crown of Aragón was a federation of separate territories. - There were imporant differences between the economies of ecah one: 1. Aragón: - Its economy consisted of agriculture and livestock. - It was not densely populated - It only had a few important cities such as Zaragoza. 2. Cataluña: - It had a very important textile industry. - Barcelona was an important trading port in the Mediterranean. 3. Valencia: -It traded across the Mediterranean. - Its importance grew when the Barcelona’s economy was ffected by a crisis.
3. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN ARAGĂ“N ARAGONESE AND CATALAN SOCIETY 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
The commercial success of the Crown of Aragon created a different type of society to that of Castilla: A group of few magnates who controlled much of the wealth. A wealthy bourgeoisie that controlled urban life. The clergy was very influential Most people were peasants. There were some free farmers But many farmers were subject to their feudal lords.
3. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN ARAGÓN SOCIAL CONFLICTS IN THE CROWN OF ARAGÓN -
The Crown of Aragón suffered from a demographic, economic and political crisis after thelate 14 th century. - The Black Death caused a great number of casualties in Cataluña. - The Catalan population declined. 1. In the countryside: - There were fewer people as a result of the plague and many farms were abandoned. - Some peasant thought that they should receive more for their work. - But nobles increased the taxes and imposed hard obligations to the peasants. -Remensa peasants (who were tied to the land) grouped together and produced a rebellion. 2. In the cities: - Economic problems created social tensions. - In Barcelona there was conflict between two parties: - The Biga was the party of the wealthy merchants - The Busca was supported by smaller merchants, craftsmen and poor people. - Finally, Monarchy introduced some reforms and freed the remensa peasants, but he result was a long civil war.
3. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN ARAGÓN THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE CROWN OF ARAGÓN -
The Crown of Aragón was a federation of many territories. The Catalan counties, Aragón and Valencia had kept their own forms of government. The Crown of Aragón’s overseas territories had their own laws and institutions. As the king coul not be everywhere at the same time a Viceroy became in his substitute there. There was a Cortes in each kingdom with more power than in Castilla. In Aragón, an official called Justicia Mayor was responsible for defending rights and privileges. Cataluña and Valencia were governed by a Generalitat. The king Alfonso V moved his court in Naples in the 1450s Municipalities in the cities had considerable autonomy. The city council of Barcelona as paricularly important.