Mills and society in early medieval northern Italy

Drawing on the extensive documentary record of northern Italy, available archaeological evidence, and comparative case studies from early medieval Europe, this study demonstrates that mill‐based landscapes in the Po and Friuli‐Venetian plains were shaped by society as a whole. Italian charters from the late ninth and tenth centuries highlight the pivotal role of kings and emperors in managing mills and milling resources, alongside ecclesiastical and secular landlords, aristocratic women, and wealthy peasants. This article explores the varied forms and functions of mills, highlighting that, beyond their crucial role in ecological sustainability, they also served as powerful social instruments for establishing authority, consolidating alliances, and controlling territory.