Search the repository

A+ | A- | | SLO | ENG

Abstract: Common land was, until land relief in 1848, mostly owned by the landlords and was managed and used by them and the village communities. This land generally comprised the less fertile and more remote areas, such as pastures and forests. The rights to use the latter were vital for the rural population, who depended in particular on common pasturage and wood, but also on leaves and other natural resources. The dissertation focuses on the 19th century and the early 20th century, up to the First World War. Although the second half of the 18th century is also considered in the interests of a comprehensive study. The presentation and interpretation of the state and changes of the common lands in the provinces of Carniola and Gorizia-Gradisca is followed by an in-depth case study of the area of the manor of Duino and after 1848 of the District Governorship of Sežana. Here, research focuses primarily on the long- standing official and unofficial processes by which common land was divided into private ownership or individual use. After 1848, the latter became the property of the village communities or the newly formed political municipalities. The legal status of the land and the role of the main actors (communities, mayors, beneficiaries, authorities) in these processes are therefore examined. This emphasises the socio- economic role of common land rights, which ultimately led to overexploitation and violations of land use restrictions (i.e. afforestation laws). The dissertation offers an original study as well as an in-depth analysis and interpretation of archival material that has not yet been studied or published. The problematic and unclear legal status of common land was the cause of numerous conflicts and controversies in the past, which were intensified by the existential importance of the land and peasant mentality. This situation was exacerbated in the 19th century, and was reflected in the various forms of legal status of common land or its shares after division. The use of common land was becoming even more restricted and the claims to the shares were all but obvious. Both use and entitlement were not free, as is often assumed. The beneficiaries paid and sometimes even overpaid for their rights. In the dissertation, we have outlined the various conditions for entitlement to common land or shares of common land, and interpreted the process of its division into private or common property. We have established that common land was divided into ownerships mainly from the mid-19th century onwards, which was linked to the land relief during 1848. It should be noted that it was divided into individual use before, and also after the mid-19th century. However, it was later more difficult for the authorities to approve this kind of division, as it did not comply with land relief legislation. As a result, such divisions eventually took place unofficially. Administrative reorganisations in the 19th century brought even more confusion to the process. The issue of unclear status accompanied and conditioned development on common land in the past, and it is legislation at state and local levels that has played and continues to play the greatest role in the management of common land.
Keywords: common land, Karst, microhistory, land use, privatization of land, 19th century, community, rights of the commoner, duties of the commoner, dissertations
Published in RUNG: 11.06.2025; Views: 387; Downloads: 3
Full text (6,81 MB)

Abstract: This research investigates the rural landscape of the lagoon of Venice and its surrounding territory focusing on the forms of exploitation of its natural resources, the transformations that occurred throughout the course of history and the consequent formation of its primary economical sector. New economic sectors, new agricultural policies and other spatial and sectorial drivers transformed the primary sector itself which changed and adapted its productive schemes to the main economic patterns, heavily affecting the former rural asset of the landscape of the lagoon by changing its demographic, economic activities and land use practices. The study carries out a systematic and detailed analysis of all economic, cultural and social features that have interacted and impacted this specific landscape, relying mainly on the comparison of historical and current land-use maps through three different historical spans: 1823-1840 (pre-industrialization phase), 1933-1966 (industrializing process, considered as a determining factor of the transformation of this landscape) and 2013 (present post-industrialized condition). The maps, combined with relative data, are compared with the aid of the Geographical Information System (GIS) computer software. As a result, a set of new maps has been obtained, which point out the historical landscape permanencies, defined through in situ surveys on the territory. A multitude of other archival documents from direct and indirect sources have been examined in order to build up a sound and detailed socio-economic context and the overall historical background. Resources, goods and services provided by the rural landscape and its development are an important part of regional and EU policy instruments and also an essential factor of identity and growth for local communities. The consumption of resources, their availability and maintenance over time and accessibility through property regulations are all factors that shape the common and public dimension of the rural landscape, which represents another study challenge of this work. This study proposes the establishment of the rural park of the lagoon of Venice, through the implementation of the multi-functional role of agriculture, for the fulfilment of two fundamental conditions of the peri-urban rurality: the need of safeguarding the landscape and its significance, by preserving the authenticity and integrity of the rural characters and the dynamism of the primary sector, which is strictly related to the survival of the rural landscape.
Keywords: Rural landscape of the lagoon of Venice, UNESCO Management Plan 2012–2018, European Landscape Convention, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Italian Constitution, Cultural Heritage and Landscape Code, authenticity and integrity of the rural heritage, intangible heritage, landscape evaluation, land-use cartography, Geographical Information System (GIS), fish-farming, multifunctional agriculture, new rural community, common pool resources, public goods, club goods, property rights, rural park
Published in RUNG: 04.10.2016; Views: 7131; Downloads: 225
Full text (21,33 MB)