La creación y gestión de las dehesas de la Comunidad de aldeas de Daroca (siglos XIII-XVI). (2023). En coautoría. ALLUÉ-ANDRÉS y RODRIGO-ESTEVAN. ISBN: 978-84-1340-780-7 (papel) ISBN: 978-84-1340-781-4 (digital) María Luz Rodrigo-Estevan

https://www.academia.edu/178955522/La_creaci%C3%B3n_y_gesti%C3%B3n_de_las_dehesas_de_la_Comunidad_de_aldeas_de_Daroca_siglos_XIII_XVI_2023_En_coautor%C3%ADa_ALLU%C3%89_ANDR%C3%89S_y_RODRIGO_ESTEVAN_ISBN_978_84_1340_780_7_papel_ISBN_978_84_1340_781_4_digital_ For centuries, livestock farming has been a very important economic activity in Aragon, particularly in those regions where the topography of the land and the quality of the soil make agriculture impractical. A clear example of this was the land belonging to the now-defunct Community of Villages of Daroca, where, following the conquest of the town in 1120, a significant number of livestock farmers, coming from both within and outside the kingdom, gradually settled. The abundance of land, coupled with low population density, meant that the residents were able to graze their herds — consisting mainly of small livestock — within the boundaries of the Community, without having to resort to transhumance. However, the growing importance of livestock farming from the 14th century onwards meant that its pastures were coveted by many, especially by livestock farmers from Zaragoza. This group was very powerful from a political and economic standpoint, and enjoyed a large number of privileges —the most valuable, and undoubtedly the most controversial, being that of universal grazing rights—, some of which conflicted with those held by the residents of the Daroca Community. Numerous conflicts arose with them right up until the very dissolution of this institution in 1837. These external pressures, but also internal needs, led the Community to create a large number of dehesas and to attempt to protect their exclusive use, closing them off throughout the year whenever possible. Thanks to the historical records, we know that there were various types of dehesas and restricted areas, and that the penalties for trespassing varied considerably depending on both the offence committed and the village that owned the land. The dehesas were protected during the major land-clearing processes that took place in the Community during the 16th century, owing to the large influx of people who came to these lands during that period. This is undoubtedly explained by the importance of this activity in this region of Aragon and the extent to which the Community’s officials were aware of it.