Castilian Merchants at the end of the Middle Ages: Dangers and Safeguards in Wool Race or Route to Flanders

Abstract

By the end of the Middle Ages, the Kingdom of Castile had an important economic activity, standing out the commerce with Northern Europe in the so called Route to Flanders where wool was a main product. This route began
in the XIII century reaching its peak in the XV century, being important wool producers and merchants, as well as, maritime carriers, Castilians and Basques crew who faced serious threats as humans, natural disasters and piracy.