Šoštanj over the centuries of market-town autonomy

Abstract

The market town of Šoštanj at the foot of the homonymous castle is a typical medieval market-town settlement which was hardly distinguishable from most other market towns in Slovenian Styria until the industrial era. Although primarily discussing its administrative-judicial and property development with an emphasis on the Early Modern Period, the contribution also touches on its economic and demographic conditions. While Šoštanj kept abreast of its counterparts in the wider area as regards the development of its market-town autonomy, it lagged after too many in property-demographic and economic aspects. The limited content of the contribution reflects the poor preservation of relevant vernacular sources and a lack of research on the market town’s history between the sixteenth and the nineteenth centuries.