Dinamiche economiche e mutamento sociale in due comunità del territorio veronese. Cerea e Soave tra Sei e Settecento.

The questions that this research will deepen mainly belong to the field of economic and social history that deals with rural society. The framework consists of two communities in the Verona area, Cerea and Soave, chosen according to their geographical location (lowland and hill), economic characteristics and availability of archival records. The issues that this study highlights concern especially the processes of economic development and social changing of the 'rural bourgeoisie' that between the seventeenth and eighteenth century, in an environment characterized by small and smallest landowners, is made up of individuals who have in most cases limited resources. However there are individuals with a good portion of land and cash equivalents such as to conduct financial activities as giving loans on pawn. The enrichment of these groups allows them to carve out a leading position within the community, as evidenced by the discovery of some of them inside the town councils or commissions related to public administration. In a context characterized by activities related mainly to the primary sector, in which the key not only for daily subsistence, but also for the enrichment and social advancement, is the landed property, we wanted to pay particular attention to identifying and watching of some families, but also some individual figures, which stand out both for their economic vitality and initiative, but also for their social and institutional role within the community.