Kaunas city register of 1561–1564 as a source of information about the management and sale of forest commodities
Kaunas city register of 1561–1564 as a source of information about the management and sale of forest commodities
Author(s): Krzysztof ŁożyńskiSubject(s): Archaeology, Cultural history, Economic history, Local History / Microhistory, 16th Century
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie
Keywords: Grand Duchy of Lithuania; Kaunas; city register; commerce; forest produce; forest exploitation;
Summary/Abstract: In historical sources describing 16th century Lithuania, extensive forests are mentioned as a distinctive feature of the region. Forest played a significant role in the development of silviculture and professional groups that exploited forest commodities. Above all, forests were a source of timber for local inhabitants, including builders and craftsmen, but they also offered shelter and provided local com- munities with food. Forest products such as timber, planks, charcoal, and wood tar were traded on the domestic market and exported to Western Europe. Rapid economic growth and a high demand for Lith- uanian forest products enabled domestic and foreign merchants to exploit primeval forests surrounding the city of Kaunas.
Journal: Echa Przeszłości
- Issue Year: XXIV/2023
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 47-59
- Page Count: 14
- Language: English