Economy_and_urbanism First_Bulgarian_Empire

a pendant of preslav treasure

trade had important weight in economy, bulgaria lay between byzantine empire, central europe, rus , steppes. trade relations byzantine empire regulated on favoured nation basis treaties included commercial clauses. first such treaty signed in 716 , determined goods imported or exported when provided state seal. goods without documents confiscated state treasury. bulgarian merchants had colony in constantinople , paid favourable taxes. relevance of international trade bulgaria evident, country willing go war byzantine empire when in 894 latter moved market of bulgarian traders constantinople thessaloniki, had pay larger taxes , did not have direct access goods east. in 896 war won , status of bulgaria favoured nation restored , commercial restrictions – abolished. bulgarian towns acquired great prosperity, such preslavets on danube described in 960s being more prosperous capital of rus , kiev. contemporary chronicle lists main trade partners , chief imports bulgaria. country imported gold, silks, wine , fruits byzantine empire, silver , horses hungary , bohemia, furs, honey, wax , slaves rus . there commercial ties italy , middle east well.

the first bulgarian empire did not mint coins , taxes paid in kind. not known whether based on land or on person, or both. in addition taxes peasantry must have had other obligations, such building , maintaining infrastructure , defences, provide food , inventory army. arab writer al-masudi noted instead of money bulgarians used cows , sheep buy goods.

the density of network of towns large. economic historian paul bairoch estimated in 800 pliska had 30,000 inhabitants , around 950 preslav had 60,000 making largest city in non-muslim europe, save constantinople. in comparison, largest cities in contemporary france , italy did not reach 30,000 , 50,000 respectively. alongside 2 capitals existed other prominent urban centres made bulgaria urbanised region in christian europe @ time along italy. according contemporary chronicles there 80 towns in region of lower danube. surviving sources list more 100 settlements in western areas of empire bulgarian orthodox church possessed properties. larger urban centres consisted of inner , outer town. inner town encircled stone walls , had administrative , defence functions, while outer town, unprotected, centre of economic activities markets, workshops, vineyards, gardens , dwelling populace. however, should noted elsewhere in middle ages, country remained predominantly rural.