ДЕМОГРАФСКА КРИЗА 20-ТИХ И 30-ТИХ ГОДИНА XVI ВЕКА У РУДАРСКИМ ЦЕНТРИМА СМЕДЕРЕВСКОГ, КРУШЕВАЧКОГ, ВУЧИТРНСКОГ И ЋУСТЕНДИЛСКОГ САНЏАКА
DEMOGRAPHIC CRISIS DURING THE 1520S AND 1530S IN THE MINING CENTRES OF SMEDEREVO, KRUŠEVAC, VUČITRN AND KYUSTENDIL SANCAKS

Summary/Abstract: There is continuity in mining production on the territory of the central Balkans since ancient times. In the medieval Serbian and Bosnian states, mining reached its pinnacle in the first half of the 15th century. After 1459, the rich mines of the Serbian medieval state were captured the Ottomans. They changed almost nothing in the existing system but continued to operate and apply mining legislation, laws and technologies. Following a crisis caused by wars for the conquest of the Balkans, the production in mines was renewed and increased. The period of successful mining was interrupted by a crisis which grasped the Balkan mines at the beginning of the 1520’s, which overlapped with the time of great expansion in the north and the outbreak of plague.The research focuses on mines in central Serbia (Rudnik and Železnik), the mines of Kopaonik and Željin (Zaplana, Plana, Brzeće and Belasica), together with Novo Brdo and Kratovo. Decrease in the number of inhabitants is a clear indicator of crisis, as well as the enormous debts of the tenants who were not capable of fulfilling their duties. The registry of debts shows that the crisis lasted until the end of the 1530’s. Afterwards, the results of the 1536 reform conducted by Sultan Suleiman the Lawgiver (1520–1566) became visible, reflecting a sequence of administrative, legislative and other measures. A revision of the production of all mines was carried out. At the same time, new mining pits were opened and new mining hasses were established. Production stabilized slowly, but successfully, and from the middle of the 16th century, it started to take off. The opening and restoration of dozens of mines throughout the European part of Empire was of the greatest importance and it was conducted over the next few decades.

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