Salt extraction by the Solovetsky monastery on the eve of the 1764 secularization
Abstract
The article deals with the circumstances ofthe Solovetsky monastery salt production at the eve of the secularization that took place in 1764. The Author’s goal is to examine the economic value of the Solovetsky monastery salt production at the time of its lost as a result of the secularization reform. This examination was based on the study of the archival documents. Therefore the following issues were considered: (1) the structure of the salt business in Russia in the 18th century; (2) the value of the Pomorian salt in the all-Russian salt market in the middle of the 18th century; (3) the value of the Solovetsky monastery salt production share in the all-Russian Pomorian salt delivery; (4) estimation of the volume and profitability of the salt business for the Solovetsky monastery at the eve of 1764. The analysis shows a significant market decline of the Pomorian salt in the 18th century, about half of which was the salt produced by the Solovetsky monastery. First of all it was caused by the appearance of a significant number of competing salt manufacturers with lower salt costs œming from cheaper primecost and cheaper delivery. In particular the market of Vologda, formerly the largest place for Solovetsky salt sales was fully occupied by other suppliers by the middle of the 18th century. The overall Solovetsky monastery’s salt production shrinked to a half of its middle of the 17th century value. By the time of secularization reform the salt production was not earing significant profit to the Solovetsky monastery. Under the strong state monopoly the salt business transformed into a labor-consuming national service obligation. Bereaved of the land estates together with its salt mines the Solovetsky monastery was also set free from a hard economical obligation.
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