Sale, price and valuation in Galicia and Castile-León in the tenth century
Wendy Davies
The number of sale transactions recorded by northern Spanish charters the tenth century is very striking, especially in 930s to 960s. A record price paid was a consistent element such documents, although words used express varied from silver solidi goats, shirts and grain. Valuations, other units account as cattle, were often stated when objects payment. While it looks if some really deals urban León its hinterland, using pieces called argenzos, argenteos etc., elsewhere this rare. Comparing three different monastic collections Celanova north–west, Sahagún central meseta Cardeña foothills sierras north–east, regional difference also striking. notable for volume early date sales increasing use silver–based expressions value. Round Celanova, contrast, there many sales, people several modes valuation simultaneously, but metal–based notions rarely. Cardeña, close Burgos, far fewer are recorded, they come later century, value only ones used. This latter sub–urban context seems have been much less commercially active than that Sahagún, with exchange gift countergift more prominent characteristic.
Early Medieval Europe