Levies from Mills in Prikamye in the 17th – 18th Centuries (Socio-Economic and Geographical Perspective)
https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2025-24-1-90-112
Abstract
The article studies the mill economy in Prikamye region in the 17th – 18th centuries. It draws information about millrelated taxes from various sources, including receipt books of the Novgorod local administrative office (prikaz), annual voivodeship reports (smetny spisok), censuses, registers, reports, list notebooks, reports to central and local governmental institutions. The considerable number of mills in the region indicates a high level of hydraulic engineering work. The study identifies key trends in the development of the mill economy in Prikamye during this period. Most mills were water-powered, and the construction of larger facilities indicated a growing sophistication in commoditymoney relations. State policy during the era of Peter the Great emphasized the need to account for all income sources, including mill fees. A notable increase in government oversight of mills occurred with the establishment of an office dedicated to recording these fees. The largest mills, which operated year-round, were predominantly situated in economically thriving areas where the local population engaged in bread production. Following Peter’s reforms, the majority of taxes collected from mills originated from the estates of the Stroganovs and the Kungur district. The products of the Kama flour mill, including flour and cereals, were not only sold in local markets but also exported to neighboring regions. The article further evaluates the size of cash receipts to the state treasury and identifies the locations of the mills. It categorizes various mill designs and examines the social composition of the owners of these significant facilities.
Supporting agencies: The research was supported by Russian Science Foundation grant no. 24-28-01070, https://rscf.ru/project/24-2801070/. The author expresses gratitude to Daniil Alekseevich Renev for his help compiling maps and placing mills.
About the Author
A. A. Kosmovskaya
Perm State National Research University; Perm State Institute of Culture; Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Anna A. Kosmovskaya, Candidate of Sciences (History), Associate Professor
Scopus Author ID 57219358488
WoS Researcher ID X-4396-2019
Perm
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For citations:
Kosmovskaya A.A. Levies from Mills in Prikamye in the 17th – 18th Centuries (Socio-Economic and Geographical Perspective). Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology. 2025;24(1):90-112. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2025-24-1-90-112
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