Chapter 58 Economic and Cultural Development of the Principality

Chapter 58 Economic and Cultural Development of the Principality

Wallachia was victorious at the front, but was also developing slowly at the rear.

Through the Hanseatic League, the United Duchy began growing grapes and raising sheep. Rural handicrafts have also developed to a certain extent, and exports of silk, beeswax, and linen have surged. Tariffs are also gradually increasing.

Of course, there is another policy jointly promoted by the Grand Duke, the Senate, and Peter, which is to encourage childbirth.

Population has always been regarded as the most important national resource, coexisting with agriculture. The stronger the scale of agricultural production, the stronger the national power. Large-scale agricultural production requires a large amount of labor to maintain, and the size of the population is directly related to the country's taxation and military service. Population is the foundation of a country and an important indicator of whether the country is strong or not. Therefore, regardless of whether they are Eastern or Western countries, rulers always regard value-added population as the core task of stabilizing their rule.

Grand Duke Mircea had decreed two years ago that a woman who had three children would be exempted from taxes. There will also be certain rewards for four to five children.

In Constanta, the first hospital was also built, with religious personnel in charge. Used to protect newborns and mothers from various postpartum diseases.

By encouraging childbearing, it not only increases manpower and agriculture, but also continues to expand the dominant ethnic group in the country. The fate of Austria-Hungary cannot happen.

Some craftsmen from Northern Italy and the HRE came to the principality, and some foreign communities began to appear. Including Bohemians, Germans, Poles, and Armenians.

Glass, ceramics and other industries developed from scratch, which added impetus to the principality's foreign trade. The country's business groups began to be active in Poland, Hungary and other countries.

The most envious among them are Venice and Genoa. These two maritime powers are eager to devour this place. Genoa, in particular, has been somewhat harsh on them in terms of trade since their request for land failed.

Peter had also anticipated this and responded by cultivating domestic merchants and opening up northern trade routes. At the same time, Dobroga became a pilot site for various reforms. Who made the lord powerful?

On the issue of farmers, Peter promoted the policy of unifying taxes and labor, integrating labor into taxes, and then the government would use the money to hire people to do things.

This approach can improve farmers' enthusiasm and promote the development of commodity economy. At the same time, Constanta's trade exchanges have become closer, causing taxation to shift more towards industrial and commercial taxes.

However, the situation in each place is different, so the Senate implements different policies for each place. Where development is good, monetary land rent will be promoted, while in poor places, physical land rent will be the main factor. The Grand Duke also tried his best to reduce the duration of corvee service so that commoners could have more time to have children.

Regarding the serfs, Mircea finally compromised with the boyars. Serfs could spend money to redeem themselves or obtain freedom through the "mercy" of the lord, but if they wanted to continue cultivating the land, they had to pay rent to the lord.

This is very tolerant compared to other countries. Looking eastward, during the period from the decline of the Principality of Kiev to the rise of the Principality of Moscow, foreign invasions, civil wars, droughts, infectious diseases and other disasters occurred frequently, which deepened the peasants' dependence on the landlords and the landlords' restraint on the peasants. . Gradually, farmers only had one chance to leave their masters once a year, around St. George's Day in late autumn. Of course, this assumes that their debts have been paid off.

Mongolian extortion further exacerbated the poverty of the Russian economy. As Lyubavsky said: "A huge parasite lives in the body of the people of Northeastern Rus; it sucks the nutrients from the body, consumes his physical strength for a long time, and creates chaos in his body from time to time." Except for Mongolia In addition to the effects of conquest and extortion, the Black Death also arrived in northeastern Russia in the mid-14th century and struck again and again over the next hundred years. Rus suffered heavy losses in population.

Economic development also requires corresponding superstructures and laws. Mircea divided the country into 28 provinces. Senior officials are appointed by the Grand Duke and are loyal to the Grand Duke.

During the Grand Duke's absence, the Senate is responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the country. Of course, all the Grand Duke's orders must be carried out.

Peter was naturally responsible for business and trade. In order to support the reform, he handed over all tariffs at the four ports. This moved Mircea very much.

Peter's power was second only to the Grand Duke. In order to increase his income, Peter began to establish a state monopoly on salt. At the same time, he is also the only boyar who can produce and trade salt, and his profits are very large.

For the vast majority of people, agriculture is the center of their economic life. Rye, wheat, oats, barley and millet constitute the basic crops. Agricultural technology is similar to that in Eastern Europe. Agricultural implements include wooden plows, iron plows, rakes, scythes, and scythes. In addition, raising cattle, growing vegetables, hunting, fish farming, beekeeping and the cultivation of more specialized crops such as flax are also important agricultural activities.

Commerce develops faster than agriculture. The principality exports agricultural products and handicrafts and imports luxury goods. In addition to other taxes, it is still manageable.

As for culture, although the art, literature and architecture of the Principality have developed rapidly, they are still lagging behind those of Western Europe and the Castle.

For the cathedral of the new capital, no results have been reached in terms of design. Because the design drawings are still being planned, the capital cannot be careless, but now during the war, we will wait until it is over.

People from some cultures basically came out of the Constanta Academy. They compiled the stories passed down by the people orally into books, and then spread them throughout the world through bards. The Constanta Library is the largest local library and has the largest collection of books.

With the joint promotion of various folk authors and litterateurs, various literary forms have developed. Poems with a sense of humor, fables, verse stories, verse chronicles, travel notes, farces, satirical essays and other literary themes have become popular. Come. Some compiled folk tales and fairy tales, historical works, stories promoting ethics and morals and describing anecdotes from various places and other literary works are welcomed by literati, scholars and ordinary people.

As for art, it generally follows the Byzantine tradition, while also developing and retaining its own characteristics. There were three common types of paintings in the Middle Ages, namely murals, icons and illustrations. Murals are generally painted on the interior walls and vaults of churches, and some are also painted on exterior walls; icons are generally painted on the wooden panels between the altar and the nave; illustrations often appear in the form of decorative patterns in religious It can be found in manuscripts and documents, and sometimes in books other than religious works.