Incorporating Transylvania within the Habsburg Monarchy was an important condition for modernizing this province after Central Europe pattern. The absolutist measures of the Habsburgs had the purpose to mobilize better the resources that Transylvania had to offer, for the interest of the state. This objectives were only possible by adopting a financial and economical policy.The financial Habsburg policy in Transylvania could be characterized by increasing state income- taxes will become the main revenue source-, adopting modern tax collection system, abolishing that the Saxons had in tax distribution, and last but not least, overcoming the influence of privileged classes.The economical policy of the Habsburgs in Transylvania characterizes through measures which aimed the development of agriculture, mining, salt mining, manufactures and handcraft, trade, transport and postal service system.The measures of development in agriculture were: introducing new plants into cultivation, expanding the areas with textile plants, improvement of local animal breeds, using import duty, interdiction for import, taxes for protection and stimulation of agricultural production in Transylvania.The second source of revenue that enjoyed the attention of the Habsburgs were salt plants and development of mining. Especially the gold ore, silver ore, and salt exploitation, which were state monopoly, but also iron and mercury ores.The trade policy of the Habsburgs in Transylvania meant among others a new course for the trade routes and relations, than those practiced during the time it was autonomous principality. Maria Theresa succeeded to change the import markets, from western countries to Habsburg lands. |