Original scientific paper
A Contribution to the Study of Trade in Herzegovina During the XIXth Century
Šime Peričić
Abstract
Little is known about trade in Herzegovina as a separate region. Namely, whenever that activity has been investigated Herzegovina has always been seen together with Bosnia. In such a manner the former tended to be neglected. Recently discovered rare sources provided the author with the opportunity to correct this inbalance and to describe the trade relations of Herzegovina with the outer world during the sixth decade of the XIXth century. Namely, verbal and numerical data relating to the trade activities in Herzegovina of that period have become at least partially known owing to three preserved consulate reports from Mostar. These confirm that the region exported larger and larger quantities of some agricultural and livestock products primarily through Metković and Split. At the same time it imported certain quantaties of manufacturing goods such as alcoholic beverages, rice, glass wortks, iron works and sea salt. The greater part of these goods were imported through Trieste, through Dalmatian harbours, while a smaller part arrived through Wien, Istanbul and other parts of Europe. At the beginning of the targetted period (1855-1856) the value of imports surpassed in large measure those of exports while in a short time (1857-1859) these values almost balanced out. If the political circumstances and the land communication routes had been better the trade would certainly have been greater and more favourable for the trade balance of Herzegovina of the time. In addition, the reports offer numerous facts relating to the condition of agriculture, especially the cultivation of tobacco and vineyards.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
12178
URI
Publication date:
19.10.2001.
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