G4 Doctoral dissertation (monograph)
Valtakunnan eduksi, isänmaan kunniaksi, ruukinpatruunalle hyödyksi : Suomen rautateollisuus suurvalta-ajalla (1994)
For the good of the nation, the honour of the fatherland and the profit of the master : the Finnish iron industry during the seventeenth century (1616-1721)

Vilkuna, K. H. J. (1994). Valtakunnan eduksi, isänmaan kunniaksi, ruukinpatruunalle hyödyksi : Suomen rautateollisuus suurvalta-ajalla [Doctoral dissertation]. Suomen historiallinen seura ry. Historiallisia tutkimuksia, 188. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-dor-000042

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Vilkuna, Kustaa H. J.

ISBN: 951-710-002-7

Journal or series: Historiallisia tutkimuksia

ISSN: 0073-2559

eISSN: 2670-3866

Publication year: 1994

Number in series: 188

Number of pages in the book: 388

Publisher: Suomen historiallinen seura ry

Place of Publication: Helsinki

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-dor-000042

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Delayed open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/97542

Additional information: Digitoitu

Abstract

A specialised iron industry was born in the more developed regions of Western Europe during the Middle Ages and the beginning of modern times. The newer features of economic life came to Sweden during the latter half of the 16th century, becoming ever more closely linked to the dynamic increase in the economy in general, to proto-capitalism 358 and mercantilism in general. A versatile iron industry was born, an industry which was to have widespread effects on the society and culture of the country, and which was to reach Finland by the end of the 17th century. The first large production plant was founded in 1616, the number of plants having grown to 20 by the end of the century. Half of the ironworks were owned by the nobility, onethird by the ironmasters (bruksförvaltare) and some by the merchants. The current study will look into the critical preconditions for the functioning of the ironworks as well as into the financial success of the ironmasters. The main questions may be answered by looking into the government policies of the time regarding Finnish mining and the associated administrative matters, the establishment of the ironworks, capital, fuels and raw materials, their availability, the location of the ironworks and their effect on the environment, the overall significance of the ironworks, of banking, land ownership, agriculture and other subsidiary industries), the craftsmanship of the ironworks owners and employees, the volume of production and marketing, the relationship of the ironworks owners to the peasantry and nobility of the area and to the authorities and to the cities. The sources comprise the following administrative documents: various accounting documents, documents of the Board of Mining and Metallurgical Industries (Bergskollegium) and Local Mining District (bergslag) as well as papers from various levels of the Courts and legal authorities. There are no remaining financial records in existence in Finland of the ironworks book-keeping itself.

Keywords: Great Power period; economic history; iron industry; mining industry; ironworks; history; doctoral dissertations

Free keywords: 17th century; 18th century; Finland

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes