From redistribution to the market: large estates, exchanges, markets and tolls in northern Italy (ninth–eleventh centuries)

The aim of this article is to discuss forms of domestic exchange in the north of the kingdom of Italy between the late ninth and early eleventh centuries. In the early part of this period the economy of the area was based on large rural estates and redistributive exchanges. Only from the late tenth century did economic structures change, with a sharp increase in commercial activities, and a focus of manufacturing activity on cities. However, this reconfiguration of the economic system, fully accomplished by the mid-eleventh century, did not result in an economic take-off.