Original scientific paper
The Production and Sale of Salt from the Island of Pag in the Past
Šime Peričić
Abstract
The production and sale of salt from the island of Pag in the past was of enormous significance for the whole island but for Dalmatia as well. Nevertheless, this issue has not up to now been thoroughly examined. The author maintains that this is a huge oversight on the part of Croatian historiography. This fact motivated him to give an extensive overview of the issue. In searching for data, particularly statistics relating to the production and sale during Venetian times, the author encountered a wall of silence in his sources. This did not discourage him. The production of salt on the island dates back to at least the early Middle Ages and has continued up to our times. Owing to a favourable clay surface and exceptional climatic conditions, Pag was the site of the most intensive production of salt on the Croatian coast. However, the neglect with which foreign authorities treated the salt works on the island had a negative impact on the production and the sale of salt. Indeed, the restraints placed on the free sale of salt, that is the monopoly imposed by the foreign powers, undermined the expansion of salt production on the island of Pag. In spite of these facts it remained the basis of the existence of a large number of the islanders down through the centuries.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
12172
URI
Publication date:
19.10.2001.
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