H. Szilasi Ágota - Várkonyi Péter - Bujdosné Pap Györgyi - Császi Irén (szerk.): Agria 50. (Az egri Dobó István Vármúzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2017)

Viga Gyula: Adatok és szempontok Tokaj-hegyalja kézműiparának földrajzi és társadalmi szerkezetéhez

Gyula Vica

DATA AND ASPECTS REGARDING THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE HANDICRAFT INDUSTRY IN THE TOKAJ-HEGYALJA

REGION

The study explores the factors influencing the development of the various crafts of Tokaj-Hegyalja (Zemplén County North-East Hungary) which relied ön geographical conditions and grew in symbiosis with social development. The geographical position and characteristics of this historical region not only allowed for the appearance of crafts and the emergence of craftsmen as a social class, but due to its economic relations with other regions of different conditions, it also provided external markets for the craftsmen of Hegyalja. The societies of wine-producing market-towns were characterised by unique conditions, because of the large proportion of craftsmen, but also because of their ability to respond to external demands, thanks to the significant concentration of the workforce and the year-round availability of markets. The complex economy of the historic region maintained its structured society the growth ofwhich was boosted from time to time by the large-scale production of goods, the profitability of viniculture and the social status of the population ofwine-producer oppida, which was superior to that of the surrounding peasant villages. The supply of goods that was able to respond to new demands and the emergence of industries that sometimes produced luxury items not only reflect the economic situation and the social status, but also the cultural habits and the mentality of the population in these wine-producing market towns. These not only made the wine-making oppida self- sufficient, but provided goods for the markets and fairs, thus shaping the range of goods used by the residents of the surrounding areas, as well as their demands.

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