A Contribution to the Analysis of the Economic Situation in the Drni？ Region during the 19th Century

Sa？etak The economic circumstances in the Drni？ region in the past and therefore during the 19th century have remained almost unknown to scholarship and the broader public. This is the reason the author undertook the study of these circumstances and their development during the last century as these can be reconstructed from preserved sources. The author establishes that the inhabitants of the Drni？ region during this period primarily depended on agriculture, especially on livestock raising and on the production of wine. At times these activities yielded surplus products. In addition, the people at that time were engaged in mining. Regretably, the mines were always owned by foreign capitalists. As elsewhere in Dalmatia, the Drni？ region had its share of cottage industries and handicrafts. The miller's trade was well developed. Since Drni？ during this period became an important junction of overland communication, this had a positive influence on its trade. All of this enabled its populace to enjoy a higher standard of living in comparison with the majority of the population of the Dalmatian hinterland (Zagora)