June 04

Events - Economy & Industry

1411day.year

King Charles VI grants a monopoly for the ripening of Roquefort cheese to the people of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon as they had been doing for centuries.

In 1411, King Charles VI of France granted the people of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon an exclusive monopoly on maturing Roquefort cheese, formalizing a centuries-old tradition.
In 1411, King Charles VI of France formalized the centuries-old cheese maturing tradition of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon. He granted local cheesemakers an exclusive royal monopoly on ripening Roquefort cheese. This decree recognized and protected the unique production methods of the region. By codifying the process under royal privilege, it ensured quality and authenticity of the cheese. The monopoly lasted for generations, shaping the economic and cultural identity of Roquefort. Today, Roquefort remains one of France's most renowned protected designations of origin.
1411 Charles VI Roquefort cheese Roquefort-sur-Soulzon
1912day.year

Massachusetts becomes the first state of the United States to set a minimum wage.

Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to establish a minimum wage, pioneering labor reform.
In 1912 Massachusetts enacted the nation's first minimum wage law for women and minors. The legislation aimed to curb exploitative pay and improve living standards amid rapid industrialization. It set a legal pay floor, inspiring other states and eventually federal wage regulations. Debates around government intervention and free-market principles emerged from the reform. The law reflected Progressive Era concerns for social justice and worker protections. Massachusetts's action marked a milestone in American labor history and policy development.
1912 Massachusetts minimum wage