The fundamental inequality in Western societies is rooted in the position of those who are exposed to the risks inherent in economic life, even in a context of global growth. These risks create permanent insecurity, while impoverishment is a constant threat to those who depend solely on their work for their livelihood. Price instability, combined with inadequate wages, creates a mass of poor workers who depend for their survival on both public or private charity and, more rarely, on the solidarity of the social body. This essay examines the social consequences of the situations of insecurity characteristic of medieval societies.
Panthéon-Sorbonne Paris 1 University, France - ORCID: 0000-0001-8887-1000
Chapter Title
Disuguaglianza, impoverimento e pauperismo nell'Occidente latino (XI-XIV secolo)
Authors
Laurent Feller
Language
Italian
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0705-8.11
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Book Title
Socio-Economic Inequalities during the Conjuncture of the Fourteenth Century
Book Subtitle
Sources and Methods, Dynamics and Representations (Italy and Europe, c. 1270 - c. 1350)
Editors
Davide Cristoferi
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
458
Publication Year
2025
Copyright Information
© 2025 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-0705-8
ISBN Print
979-12-215-0699-0
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-0705-8
eISBN (xml)
979-12-215-0707-2
Series Title
Reti Medievali E-Book
Series ISSN
2704-6362
Series E-ISSN
2704-6079