Alfonso J. Hernández Rodríguez reviews the recent book “Las villas marítimas del Principado de Asturias a finales del Antiguo Régimen (1750–1810)” by Pablo Sánchez Pascual
Read it at this link (requires subscription):
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/08438714251332111
“The maritime towns of the Principality of Asturias at the end of the Ancien Régime (1750–1810)” analyses the historical reality of the jurisdictional capitals of the urban councils of the Asturian coast and their ports during six crucial decades in the demographic, socio-economic and institutional spheres.
The population of these municipalities experienced significant growth until the last decade of the 18th century, especially on the central coast, where the largest towns and ports were located. Gijón stands out, with almost 4,000 inhabitants at the end of the period, although some of these towns barely reached 500. Economic backwardness was a reality in Asturias, witnessing rising poverty and intensifying emigration. Fishing was experiencing a profound crisis, with a lack of investment in ports, a backward fishing industry, and widespread poverty among fishermen, caused primarily by maritime registration. River fishing suffered from specific problems. The expansion of manufacturing was conditioned by different technical, organizational, and investment circumstances. Neither the textile sector centered on linen nor traditional iron and steel industry were able to lead Asturian industrialization. The failure of the latter also played a role in the lack of entrepreneurial spirit. Trade was limited, based on the export of raw materials and the import of manufactured goods. The number of large merchants operating from Asturias was also very small, living as rentiers. Nobility and clergy owned extensive rural estates. Gijón was the only port authorized for trade with America, which negatively affected the rest. The escalating war also contributed to the deterioration of the economic situation. Local noble oligarchies dominated municipal governments, where the degree of representation was very limited, and the Carolingian municipal reforms failed to achieve their objectives.
IMHA 