Search

Piscatorial activity was quite important in the Middle Ages. In places located next to the sea or rivers, fishing represented one of the main occupations of the population. In the city of Porto, located in the North of Portugal and bordering the Atlantic Ocean, dedication to maritime activities traces back a long way – chronologically speaking. Although some studies allow us to have an idea regarding its dynamic in medieval times, the final centuries of the Middle Ages lack deeper analyses. This study contributes to fill that gap by considering the 14th and 15th century. As a result, it was possible to determine which piscatorial communities existed in that timeframe in the city and its surroundings, the ways in which the sale of fish was regulated and its main commercial routes. To achieve this, city council’s minutes and documentation from the royal chancellery were analyzed. It was concluded that fishing was of paramount importance in the urban quotidian and that it was heavily regulated and commercialized – both internally and externally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]