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Early Middle Ages

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If we want to speak about economic development in the Czech provinces, we must begin at the very start of social development.

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Actually, we have more information from this early period about economic activities than about the politics, administration, and legislation of the first forms of state in the Czech lands.

Development in the Czech provinces in the early Middle Ages was analogous to that of other European countries. It was a state, the economy of which was based on raising crops and keeping cattle. Yet even from this early period we have information that trade was of great importance, even on an international scale. This can be attributed mainly to the country’s suitable position on the intersection of many major trade routes. Prague and of course other smaller towns at that time were visited by traders travelling from Italian ports to the north of Europe, and by merchants from the east on their way to rich towns in Germany, France, and the countries of the current Benelux.

Also, Bohemia itself was a significant partner in trade. Products exported from the Czech provinces to German states as well as to Russia and the Baltic region included in particular agricultural produce, and later on craft products, mainly made from metal, in exchange for mostly salt and also furs (from Russia) or wines, spices, and exotic fruits from Italy.

The rise of merchant towns stimulated the development of handicrafts developed as well, and we can consider them as predecessors of the industry as we understand it today. Metal processing, pottery, and crafts connected with foodpreparation (baking, malting, honey production) were of particular importance. Later on, in the 11th and 12th centuries, there was growth in the significance of other skilled workmen such as turners, tanners, goldsmiths, shoe-makers, butchers, and cloth makers. Nonetheless, cloth was still processed mostly in a domestic manner in households or on farms. Tailors did not appear until the 13th century. The first specialized craftsmen frequently worked at churchyards, which on the one hand had enough money to pay these specialists, and on the other hand provided a constant demand for their products, including products for daily consumption and also artistic items for cult purposes.