Mining Activity In Medieval Bosnia

Bosna je bogata z nahajališči kovin. Njena bogastva so bila poznana že v antiki, a največji razmah je rudarstvo doseglo v poznem srednjem veku. Začetek razvoja rudarske dejavnosti sega v čas bana Štefana II. v 14. stoletju. Pod kraljem Tvrtkom in njegovimi nasledniki je bila dejavnost v stalnem vzponu do osmanske osvojitve leta 1463. Zagon rudarske proizvodnje so omogočili saški rudarji. Vladar, plemstvo in dubrovniški trgovci so prejemali od rudnikov in prodaje kovin velike prihodke. Rudarji so bili večinoma pripadniki domače, slovanske etnične skupine in so tvorili revnejši družbeni sloj. Ob rudnikih in trgovskih poteh so se razvijala mesta. Najpomembnejša rudarska mesta so bila Srebrenica, Fojnica, Olovo in tudi Kreševo. V njihovi okolici so še danes vidni ostanki rudarske infrastrukture. Najpomembnejša izvozna surovina je bilo srebro, čigar izvoz iz Dubrovnika je znašal petino celotne evropske proizvodnje.Bosnia is rich in metal deposits. Bosnian riches were already known in antiquity, but mining reached its peak in the late Middle Ages. The beginning of the mining development dates back to the time of Ban Stephan II. in the 14th century. Under King Tvrtko and his successors activity was on a steady rise until the Ottoman conquest in 1463. The beginning of mining production was enabled by Saxon miners. The king, noblemen and Dubrovnik merchants were making a lot of profit due to mining activity. The miners were mostly members of local, Slavic ethnic group and they formed poorer social class. Alongside the mines and trade routes, cities were developed. The most important mining centres were Srebrenica, Fojnica, Olovo and also Kreševo. Remains of mining infrastructure are still visible in its surroundings. The most important export raw material was silver, whose export from Dubrovnik amounted a fifth of total European production