Water, fish, and fishing
In the middle Po valley of tenth century fishing was a highly complex and carefully organized activity. The Honorantie Civitatis Papie, document attesting to this organization, refers substantial association fishers at Pavia who selected one their number be chief magistrate principal interlocutor royal government. also maintained sizable fleet boats (at least sixty them) from which fish with reach fisheries traps set in Po's waters, whose regimen suited numerous species. collectively paid monthly tribute money its magistrate, presumably fraction income generated by sale fishers' daily catch. supposed handle fund such way that table capital city could supplied fresh delicacies on demand. “magister” did not take tributes “in good standing” because perishable nature commodity. fact complicated taxation scheme aimed flexibility for rulers, preferred incorruptible silver coins regularly payments might always needed. Thus reveals sophisticated world inland, fresh-water Italy's greatest river close period under consideration study. There were specialized workers techniques, developed markets taxation, elaborate hierarchies, consumption patterns, all attuned riverine ecosystems area. is uniquely detailed, but similar brotherhoods appear fleetingly roughly contemporary documents Lucca Ravenna.
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