Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Artisans: 1450-1650

The music is Morisco music, found on Iberian Garden, Vol. 1 by Altramar. The piece is Muwashshah: Mā li-l-muwallah, 1113-1198.

This music takes place at the beautiful gardens along the Guadalquiver, near Cordoba. This is during the "convivencia" under Alfonso X (El Sabio - The Wise), the time before Granda fell: when Christians, Moslems and Jews lived at peace with each other. Muwashshah are songs in poetic form, with instrumental interludes in the form of Ibn Bājja (Avempace): 1470-1520. This is Morisco art.

What did the Iberian city look like c. 15th century? Aside from soldiers, and shipyards ("drassanes" in Barcelona), there were artisans and peasant farmers. Some detail would be useful. "Jurats" 1 means artisans, "Joves" means journeymen. Artisans fell into two classes or estaments (estates): "artists" 2 and "menestrals". In addition to Jurats and Jovens, there also were merchants a rellotgers (keeper of the city clock) and blacksmiths. Of course, no state can exist without others: poble menut (hoi polloi), prohoms (elders), and remençes (serfs), prisoners, criminals, undesirables (Gipsies, Jews, Galleotes, Huguenots, Moriscos, etc.) 3

Glossary

Artists Area of Work
Barber-Cirurgians Barber-surgeons
Candelers de Cera Chandlers in Wax
Especiers, Adroguers, Apotecaris Spices, Druggists, Apothecaries
Notaris Notaries
Menestrals Area of Work
Argenters Silversmiths
Assaonadors Curriers
Ballesters Crossbow makers
Barreters, Capellers (Sombrerers) Hatters
Beiners Scabbard makers
Blanquers Tanners
Boters Coopers
Calceters Stocking makers
Candelers de Seu Chandlers (tallow)
Capsers Box makers
Carnissers Butchers
Cinters Ribbon Makers
Corredors de Coll Auctioneers
Cotoners Cottoners
Escudellers Crock pot makers
Esparters Esparto makers
Espassers, Viratoners Sword makers, Arrow makers
Ferrers Blacksmiths (iron)
Flassaderss Blanket makers
Freners Bridle makers
Fustanyers Fustian makers (women's clothing)
Fusters, Carpiteros de naves Carpenters, Ship carpenters
Garbelladors Sifters
Gerrers, Jarreros Jug makers, Vase makers
Hortolans, Bosquers, Llauradors, Cavadors Market gardeners, foresters, farmers, ditch diggers
Lancers Spear makers
Llauradors Labourers
Llibreters Booksellers
Mariners Sailors
Matalassers Mattress makers
Mercers (Botiguers de teles) Mercers
Mestres de Cases Masons
Molers Stonecutters, Grindstone makers
Ollers Cooking-pot makers
Paraires Wool clothiers
Passamaners Passementerie makers (decorative trimming such as tassels, braids, and fringing, for furniture and clothing)
Pellers, Peirs Old clothes dealers
Pellissers Furriers
Rajolers Tile makers
Sabaters, zapateros Shoemakers, cobblers
Sastres Tailors
Tapiners Clog makers
Teixidors de Llana, Batidores de llana Weavers of wool, wool-beaters
Teixidors de Lli Wevers of flax (linen)
Tintorers de drap de llana Dyers of wool
Torners Turners or Lathe workers (Bodgers)
Velers Veil makers
Velluters Velvet makers
Vidriers Glassmakers
Craft Confraternities Area of Work
Taverners Tavern keepers
Hostalers Innkeepers
Hortolans Market gardeners
Perxers Ribbon makers
Pescadors Fishermen
Large Multi-Craft Confraternities Area of Work
Arnesers (Basters) Packsaddle makers
Batifullers Metal beaters
Broquerers Shield makers
Cervellerers Helmet makers
Guadamassilers Leather guilders: Gilding is a technique for applying a very thin coating of gold to solid surfaces such as leather. The metal used is not only gold, but silver [vermeil] or bronze [ormolu].
Oripellers Brass workers
Pintors Painters
Sellers Saddle makers
Julians (Confraternity of Sant Julià) Area of Work
Corders, cordeleros String makers, cord makers, rope makers
Corretgers Belt makers
Guanters Glove makers
Naipers Card makers
Pinters Comb makers
Tireters Makers of flaps for doublets
Other Craft Confraternities Area of Work
Ataconadors Cobblers
Bastaixos Longshoremen
Barquers Boatmen
Calafats (mestres d'aixa) Shipwrights
Calderers Cauldron makers
Corders de viola Musical string makers
Corredors de besties Cattle brokers
Daguers Cutlers
Espardenyers Sandle makers
Estampers Printers
Giponers Doublet makers
Moliners Millers
Pastissers Pastry cooks
Revenedors Resellers
Retorsedors de seda Silk twisters
Traginers de ribera
or traginers de mar 		Carriers of goods from the river or the port to the city.
Vanovers Quilt makers
Journeymen (Joves) Craft Confraternities Area of Work
Hortolans joves Journeymen market gardeners
Joves mestres de cases i molars Journeymen masons and stonecutters
Joves sabaters, zapateros Journeymen shoemakers, cobblers
Joves sastres Journeymen tailors
Joves i fadrins fusters Journeymen unmarried carpenters
Joves paraires Journeymen wool clothiers
Miscellaneous Area of Work
Receptors, Pallolers Tax collectors, administrators of the public granery
Credencers, Romaners Bookkeepers, weighers
Portalers, Cauquilladores, Pesdaores de palla i lenya Tax collectors, weighers of hay, firewood tax
Verguers, Correus Standard-bearer, messenger
Porter del clavari, Pessador del Mostassaf Assistant to treasury, weighers

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1   "For The Common Good: Popular Politics in Barcelona, 1580-1640", by Luis R. Corteguera, Appendix One (pp. 199-202), Many of these are words are archaic, and are in Catalan, Basque or Spanish.
    Four Estaments (estates):
  1. Honored citizens, knights, doctors of law, doctors of medicine
  2. Merchants
  3. Artists
  4. Menestrals, Jurats
2   ibid., p. 209 Composed of colleges: apothecaries, druggists, barber-surgeons, notaries, and a wax chandler.
3   ibid., p. 211

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