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Studying mine-drainage works of a medieval principality living through times of war, social turmoil, and land reclamation, this book examines the relation between political power and mineral wealth. Using as a case study the mine-drainage works of Bishop Federico Wanga of Monte Calisio near Trento, Italy, this volume argues that mine-drainage works emerged when violent economic warfare within the upper class created profit horizons that capital seized in the subsoil of the principality. From that moment forward, war against hydrogeological conditions justified the existence of private mining capital in the principality. It uses as a case study the mine-drainage works of Bishop Federick Wanga of Monte Calisio near Trent, Italy.
This book shows that hegemonic powers striving to manage mineral wealth failed to monopolize economic change, which held its their ground as profit relations shifted. Increased mining rents and profits placed a heavy burden on the prince-bishop governing the principality, revealing explosive contradictions concealed in the rise of private mine-drainage works. The book offers an illuminating interpretation of the role mining played in the rise and fall of medieval European resource hegemonies.
List of contents
1. An imperial city takes the audacious Auge River as its guide.- 2. The battle against surface waters.- 3. Fighting the bishop's tax charges.- 4. Foreign miners battle pit waters.- 5. Bullion for the bishop.
About the author
Jeannette Graulau is Associate Professor for Political Science at Lehman College, City University of New York, USA.
Summary
Studying mine-drainage works of a medieval principality living through times of war, social turmoil, and land reclamation, this book examines the relation between political power and mineral wealth. Using as a case study the mine-drainage works of Bishop Federico Wanga of Monte Calisio near Trento, Italy, this volume argues that mine-drainage works emerged when violent economic warfare within the upper class created profit horizons that capital seized in the subsoil of the principality. From that moment forward, war against hydrogeological conditions justified the existence of private mining capital in the principality. It uses as a case study the mine-drainage works of Bishop Federick Wanga of Monte Calisio near Trent, Italy.
This book shows that hegemonic powers striving to manage mineral wealth failed to monopolize economic change, which held its their ground as profit relations shifted. Increased mining rents and profits placed a heavy burden on the prince-bishop governing the principality, revealing explosive contradictions concealed in the rise of private mine-drainage works. The book offers an illuminating interpretation of the role mining played in the rise and fall of medieval European resource hegemonies.
