An Economic History of Medieval Europe

Description

A clear and readable account of the development of the European economy and its infrastructure from the second century to 1500. Professor Pounds provides a balanced view of the many controversies within the subject, and he has a particular gift for bringing a human dimension to its technicalities. He deals with continental Europe as a whole, including an unusually rich treatment of Eastern Europe. For this welcome new edition -- the first in twenty years -- text and bibliography have been reworked and updated throughout, and the book redesigned and reset. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of figures List of abbreviations Foreword to the First Edition Foreword to the Second Edition 1. The Later Roman Empire The frontiers The population The land and rural conditions The towns Manufacturing and trade The economic fortunes of the Empire 2. The Early Middle Ages The invasions of the fifth century Villa and manor The towns Trade and manufacturing The Byzantine Empire The invasions of the ninth century 3. The Expansion of the Medieval Economy The measures of economic growth Economic revival in Italy Economic growth in north-west Europe The medieval monetary system Conclusion 4. The Population of Medieval Europe Sources for the history of population Birth and death in medieval Europe The medieval household Demographic history Population estimates 5. Agriculture and Rural Life Settlement The rural economy The later Middle Ages 6. The Development of the Medieval Town The urban revolution The size and function of the medieval town Urban finances The urban scene 7. Medieval Manufacturing Manufacturing: rural and urban The organisation of medieval manufacturing Branches of medieval manufacturing Manufacturing in the medieval economy 8. Trade in the Middle Ages Early medieval trade The merchants Fairs and markets The pattern of trade Road and river transport The commodities of medieval trade 9. The Commercial Revolution Credit and usury Medieval banking The bill of exchange Commercial organisation Medieval book-keeping The Merchants' Law Medieval currency The role of government 10. The Late Middle Ages The economic consequences of the Black Death Manufacturing production The Low Countries Italy in the late Middle Ages Eastern Europe Wages and prices A depression of the Renaissance Bibliography Index