Acceso usuarios
Marco Giacchetto
During the Middle Ages, industrial soap was an essential good used in textile industry processes. The wool industry represented its main user, although it was widely used at different stages of production in other textile markets as well. This article examines, thanks to a thorough examination of contemporary documentation preserved in archives, Siena’s supply chain and market for soap during the 14th and 15th centuries. It mainly focuses on policies enacted by wool cloth guild to face increasing olive oil demand – essential for producing soap – aiming to ensure fair supply prices for producers and reduce total production costs.
