Economy Second_Bulgarian_Empire

a silver vessel 14th century nikopol treasure

the economy of second bulgarian empire based on agriculture, mining, traditional crafts, , trade. agriculture , livestock breeding remained mainstays of bulgarian economy between 12th , 14th centuries. moesia, zagore, , dobrudzha known rich harvests of grain, including high quality wheat. production of wheat, barley, , millet developed in regions of thrace. main wine-producing areas thrace, black sea coast, , valleys of struma , vardar rivers in macedonia. production of vegetables, orchards, , grapes became increasingly important since beginning of 13th century. existence of large forests , pastures favorable livestock breeding, in mountainous , semi-mountainous regions of country. sericulture , apiculture developed. honey , wax zagore best-quality bee products in byzantine markets , highly praised. forests produced wood cutting (бранища); there fenced forests (забели), in wood-cutting banned.

the increase in number of towns gave strong impetus handicrafts, metallurgy, , mining. processing of crops traditional; products included bread, cheese, butter, , wine. salt extracted lagoon near anchialus. leathermaking, shoemaking, carpentry, , weaving prominent crafts. varna renowned processing of fox fur, used production of luxurious clothes. according western european sources, there abundance of silk in bulgaria. picardian knight robert de clari said in dowry of bulgarian princess maria,  ... there not single horse not covered in red silk fabric, long dragged 7 or 8 steps after each horse. , despite travelled through mud , bad roads, none of silk fabrics torn—everything preserved in grace , nobility. there blacksmiths, ironmongers, , engineers developed catapults, battering rams, , other siege equipment, extensively used in beginning of 13th century. metalworking developed in western bulgaria—chiprovtsi, velbazhd, , sofia, in tarnovo , messembria east.

coin depicting ivan alexander 1 of sons, co-emperor michael asen iv (right)

monetary circulation , minting steadily increased throughout period of second bulgarian empire, reaching climax during reign of ivan alexander (r. 1331–1371). along recognition pope, emperor kaloyan (r. 1197–1207) acquired right mint coins. well-organized mints , engraving workshops set in mid-13th century, producing copper, billon, , silver coinage. reform initiated constantine tikh asen (r. 1257–1277) , led stabilization of monetary market in bulgaria. uprising of ivaylo , pillage raids of mongols in late 13th century destabilized coinage, resulting in tenfold decrease of minting activities. stabilization of empire since 1300, bulgarian monarchs issued increased number of coins, including silver ones, able secure market domestic coins after 1330s. erosion of central authorities on eve of ottoman invasion gave rise primitive, anonymous, , crudely-forged counterfeit coins. along bulgarian coinage, coins byzantine empire, latin empire, venice, serbia, golden horde, , small balkan principalities used. due increase of production, there tendency limit circulation of foreign coins second half of 14th century. coins minted independent or semi-independent bulgarian lords, such jacob svetoslav , dobrotitsa.