Política, finanzas e infraestructura comercial: Valencia y Mallorca en la primera mitad del siglo XV

Abstract

The first half of the XVth century passed by in Majorca between the collapse of the University, in 1405, and the revolt of the foreigners from 1450 till 1453. The result of 1405 was the consignment of all the taxes that the district collected to pay the interest of the national debt, except for a small amount to cover current and extraordinary expenses. Later initiatives to progressively amortize the debt and to reform the collection system hapenned to be a failure because of the pressures of the groups who had some interests, of the very attitude of the monarchy and of the regular economic disequilibrium the problem of wheat, for instance. In this context, the realisation of -the commercial infrastructure was non-existent -except that the «Lonja de Palma» was built in 142 5, as the payment of pare of the debt was suspended- and the district limited his task to maintain, always precariously, the facilities. Opposite the languidness of Majorca, Valencia shows a considerable dynamism chat allows to start a plan of investments in public works and to realize commercial infrastructures. Valencia also showed an increasing national debt, but with different connotations: it coincided with a well-balanced economic development and with real plans of financial reform, like the one established in 1435, that managed to freeze the debe for nearly twenty years.