engleski

The Inhabitants of Late Medieval Dalmatian Commune of Rab Originating from Apennine Peninsula

In the late Middle Ages the commune of Rab situated on the island of Rab in Dalmatia experienced strong economic growth, social stabilization and consequently an increase in the number of inhabitants in the city and district. This was mainly due to the significant naval position of Rab as one of the main sea ports from Venice towards the Middle East as well as between the western and eastern shores of Adriatic. Regardless of the fact that Rab in the same period experienced several great epidemics of plague its ecclesiastical, administrative and naval importance influenced the emergence of a great circle of foreigners. Especially numerous were those from Apennine Peninsula, playing a significant role in various aspects of the daily life of Rab's society. Generally, it may be stated that the immigrants from Apennine Peninsula performed significant administrative, medical, artisan and financial roles in Rab's urban society. The main source for researching the immigrants from Apennine Peninsula are well- preserved Rab's notary records particularly those from the fifteenth century. As serial type of sources, they give us opportunity to examine several main aspects of this group of foreigners such as the place of origin, professions, economic, legal and social position in Rab and duration of their stays in that commune. On the basis of quantitative analysis of data from the Rab's notary records, which are kept in the State archive of Zadar, in the presentation will analyze above mentioned issues and general influence of Apennine immigrants on various aspects of everyday life in late medieval Rab.

Late Middle Ages, Rab, Croatia, immigrants from Apennine peninsula

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