PREFACE

The Florentine Catasto A detailed survey of households and property used for tax purposes, first established in 1427. of the 15th century is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting chapters of economic history, not only of central Italy but also of Europe. It represents not only one of the first significant examples of a "just" tax system, but the numerous documents that comprise it reflect—given the nature of the subject—the political and social conditions of the time with remarkable clarity.

It contains abundant material for research on population, the distribution of wealth, the extent of landholdings, the economic position of various social strata, the price of goods, and the like. From this Catasto, one can extract from the debates and the laws the antagonisms existing between various social classes, between families, and sometimes even between individuals. — In short, the State Archives and several other libraries in Florence contain very rich mines of information within these manuscripts.

It is all the more regrettable that from all this fruitful material, though known for centuries, barely any samples have been brought to light.

After Pagnini ¹) in 1765 published (quite inaccurately) the fundamental decree of May 22— The original Italian "maggio" is interrupted here by the page break.

¹) PAGNINI, On the tithe and various other taxes imposed by the Commune of Florence, on the currency and trade of the Florentines, up to the 16th century original: "Della decima e di varie altre gravezze imposte dal Comune di Firenze, della moneta e della mercatura de' Fiorentini, fino al secolo XVI" (Lisbon and Lucca, 1765) vol. I, pp. 214-231.