The Power of Peasant Consumers The Material Culture of Food in the Late Medieval Kingdom of Valencia
Book contents
- The Power of Peasant Consumers
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought
- The Power of Peasant Consumers
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Illustrations
- Money and Measures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Part I Material Culture
- Part II Consumption
- Chapter 6 Exploring Inventories Quantitatively
- Chapter 7 Specialisation and Diversification
- Chapter 8 The Revolution in Semidurable Goods
- Chapter 9 Regional Traditions in the Material Culture of Food
- Chapter 10 Peasant and ‘Non-peasant’ Consumption
- Part III Standards of Living
- Part IV The Logic of Peasant Consumer Behaviour
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 8 - The Revolution in Semidurable Goods
from Part II - Consumption
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 November 2025
Book contents
- The Power of Peasant Consumers
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought
- The Power of Peasant Consumers
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Illustrations
- Money and Measures
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Part I Material Culture
- Part II Consumption
- Chapter 6 Exploring Inventories Quantitatively
- Chapter 7 Specialisation and Diversification
- Chapter 8 The Revolution in Semidurable Goods
- Chapter 9 Regional Traditions in the Material Culture of Food
- Chapter 10 Peasant and ‘Non-peasant’ Consumption
- Part III Standards of Living
- Part IV The Logic of Peasant Consumer Behaviour
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The ‘revolution in semidurables’ (in objects made of earthenware or glass) was, as we contend in this chapter, one of the most visible aspects of the power attained by peasant consumers. The extent of the development of these industries to satisfy growing demand was a distinctive reaction by producers in the late medieval European context, for pottery and glass manufactures were more developed and had a longer tradition in the Mediterranean space. The Islamic inheritance and know-how provided Valencian craftsmen with a genuine means of attracting the attention of peasant consumers who possessed a growing desire for novelties. Such changes also had implications for durable materials, like objects made of wood, copper, and iron, leading some food-related objects made of them to be consumed less.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Power of Peasant ConsumersThe Material Culture of Food in the Late Medieval Kingdom of Valencia, pp. 142 - 168Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
Accessibility standard: Inaccessible, or known limited accessibility
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
The HTML of this chapter is known to have missing or limited accessibility features.
We may be reviewing its accessibility for future improvement, but final compliance is
not yet assured and may be subject to legal exceptions. If you have any questions,
please contact
accessibility@cambridge.org.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
Full alternative textual descriptions
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
Visual Accessibility
Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
Use of high contrast between text and background colour
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.