The Economy Of Latin Greece 201
ensuring adequate supplies to the city of Venice. Later in the 13th century the
Cretan authorities imposed on the Latin military settlers and Greek archons
quotas of wheat, which they undertook to buy from them at state regulated
prices determined each year according to the anticipated yield. This disposi-
tion was advantageous to landowners, since it ensured a convenient market-
ing, a rapid payment in cash, partly in advance of delivery, and a guaranteed
price floor even in case of overflow due to good harvests. Prices appear to have
been slightly on the rise in the second half of the 13th and again in the second
half of the 14th century. It is likely that the state’s quotas stimulated grain cul-
tivation. There was also a free grain trade in Crete, though exports were con-
trolled by the state and restricted to Venice, Venetian territories overseas, and
other destinations when authorised. In addition to its regulation of the wheat
trade, the Venetian government established in 1279 a salt monopoly in Crete,
and two years later imposed a new overall salt policy requiring all ships to carry
salt on their return voyage to Venice and sell it to the state.
However, in Crete as elsewhere in Latin Greece, market demand was a major
factor impacting on rural exploitation. Especially foreign demand with the
prospects of higher income stimulated shifts in the nature and volume of pro-
duction. Wine from the region of Monemvasia, called malvasia by the Latins,
was undoubtedly the most appreciated brand among those exported from the
Peloponnese, as attested from the early 13th century. Malvasia vine-stocks were
introduced into Crete in the 1330s or somewhat earlier. By 1342 the island was
already producing malvasia wine equal in quality and taste to the Monemvasia
brand.23 Moreover, growing foreign demand stimulated a substantial expan-
sion of vineyards and wine production in Crete at the expense of grain cultiva-
tion. From the mid-14th century onward wine, especially malvasia, replaced
grain as the major Cretan export item and made a substantial contribution to
the Cretan economy.24
Processing and Commercialisation of Rural Produce: Large
Landowners as Middlemen
An important aspect of estate management, especially well documented for
the Frankish Morea, deserves particular attention. Many large landowners
owned oil presses, mills, silk workshops, wine cellars and taverns generally
23 Jacoby, “Rural Exploitation,” pp. 253–54.
24 Mario Gallina, Una società coloniale del Trecento: Creta fra Venezia e Bisanzio (Venice,
1989), pp. 135–38.