Occupation, socioeconomic status, and dissidence in Bologna around 1300

This article examines the relationship of dissidence to occupation, residence, and socioeconomic conditions in the inquisition register of Bologna (1291–1310). It investigates whether the occupational composition of heresy suspects reflected broader patterns in Bologna’s urban social fabric and whether wealth profiles of parishes and occupational groups shaped involvement in dissidence. Comparing the proportions of the occupational groups and parishes among suspects of heresy to their proportions in the general population (using the 1296–97 estimo, or tax declaration, as a proxy), the study challenges prevailing scholarly assumptions. Contrary to earlier interpretations highlighting textile and leatherworkers as especially prone to dissidence in Bologna around 1300, the analysis reveals no significant overrepresentation of these occupational groups among heresy suspects. Instead, the findings point to the role of professional zoning and neighborhood dynamics in shaping patterns of religious dissent, suggesting that heresy spread through communal ties rather than being tied to specific economic classes or professions.

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