DOCSLIB.ORG

Perspectives on the Origins of Merchant Capitalism in Europe

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Perspectives on the Origins of Merchant Capitalism in Europe Fairfield University DigitalCommons@Fairfield Sociology & Anthropology Faculty Publications Sociology & Anthropology Department Summer 2000 Perspectives on the Origins of Merchant Capitalism in Europe Eric Mielants Fairfield University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/sociologyandanthropology- facultypubs Copyright 2000 SUNY Binghamton University Archived with the permission of the author and the copyright holder. Peer Reviewed Repository Citation Mielants, Eric, "Perspectives on the Origins of Merchant Capitalism in Europe" (2000). Sociology & Anthropology Faculty Publications. 45. https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/sociologyandanthropology-facultypubs/45 Published Citation Mielants, Eric. “Perspectives on the Origins of Merchant Capitalism in Europe” in Review of the Fernand Braudel Center, Vol. 23 (2), Fall 2000, p.229-292. This item has been accepted for inclusion in DigitalCommons@Fairfield by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Fairfield. It is brought to you by DigitalCommons@Fairfield with permission from the rights- holder(s) and is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Perspectiveson theOrigins of MerchantCapitalism in Europe* EricMielants thereare fourmajor theoreticalperspectives on the Essentially,originsof capitalismand the medievalera in westernEurope. This articlecritically examines the main argumentselaborated in theseperspectives and attemptsto rethinkthe long termhistory of socioeconomicand politicalprocesses. The fourmajor theoretical perspectivesdealt within this articleare, respectively,orthodox Marxism(which considers the nineteenth century as theera of capi- talism),a formof neo-Marxismwhich I call "Brennerism"(in which class struggleand agrarianproduction tend to be the primordial focus),"modernization theory" (which often contrasts the medieval era withthe modernera), and lastly,world-systems analysis, which tends to date capitalismback to the "long" sixteenthcentury (So, 1990: 187-90).1Each of theseperspectives copes withits own spe- cificproblems in dealingwith the emergenceof merchantcapital- ism. * I wishto thankAdriaan Verhulst, Erik Thoen, PieterSaey, Marc Boone, and Peter Stabel fromthe Universityof Ghent,Leon Voet fromthe Handelshogeschoolte Ant- werpen,as wellas ImmanuelWallerstein, Dale Tomich,and MarkSelden of Binghamton University,and Giovanni Arrighiof Johns Hopkins Universityfor theircritical and perceptivecomments on an earlierdraft of thisarticle, which I presentedin a much abbreviatedform at theinternational colloquium on "Labor and Labor Marketsbetween Town and Countryside(Middle Ages- 19thcentury)" at theUniversité Libre de Bruxelles, Dec. 11-12, 1998. Of course,no one but myselfis responsiblefor any errorsof factor interpretation. 1 Othersin theworld-systems school go back to c. 1400 AD (Arrighi,1994), the thir- teenthcentury (Abu-Lughod, 1989), or even 3000 BC (Frank,1990; 1992; Frank8c Gills, 1991; 1992a; 1993a). review,xxiii, 2, 2000,229-92 229 This content downloaded on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:42:54 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 230 EricMielants ORTHODOX MARXISM When orthodoxMarxism is used as a theoreticalperspective to analyzethe emergenceof capitalism,one facesseveral problems: a deterministicstagist evolution is imposedupon historicalprocesses (aftera bourgeoisrevolution, the era of capitalismdawns, only to end in the Aufhebung),the use of a socioeconomicinfrastructure whichdetermines a suprastructure,the use ofEurocentric terminol- ogies (e.g., frozenhistories; Asiatic Mode of Production),the fram- ing of exploitationas a rigiddichotomous class strugglebetween proletariansand capitalistswithin a nation-stateas a unitof analysis (Takahashi,1976: 74),2and last but not least the relegationof the marketto a secondaryposition outside the sphereof production, while assigninganalytical priority to the means of production (Tomich,1993: 223). The orthodoxMarxist tradition of constructingan economic view of modernity,reproduced by academicssuch as Christopher Hill, dates capitalism(and modernsociety) in the late eighteenth centurywith the IndustrialRevolution at its forefront(Baradat, 1998: 137-61). It is only then thatMarxists see a real transition takingplace. As a consequence,most of themdisregard the "long" sixteenthcentury, let alone theMiddle Ages. Although Marx himself acknowledgedthat "we come across the firstsporadic traces of capitalistproduction as earlyas thefourteenth or fifteenthcenturies in certain towns of the Mediterranean"(1977: 876) he did not elaborateon this.3At most,Marxists trace the early roots of capital- ism to the 1640's in England(Cantor, 1973: 294). However,in the 1970's a neo-Marxianvariant, the Brennerian approach, comes into thepicture. 2 "Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf,guild-master and journeyman,in a word; oppressorand oppressed,stood in constantopposition to one another"(Marx and Engels in the CommunistManifesto cited in Edwardset al., 1972: 67) as ifthere were only two fundamental classes in history.Another assumption is thatsmall familyproduction on thecountryside was identicalto auto-subsistance(Bois, 1985: 190) so it could not lead to the developmentof capitalism.For thehistorical evidence that it could in Catalonia cf.Torras (1980: 258). 5 Marx himselfwas not preoccupiedwith feudalism or the Middle Ages and all his statementsabout themwere nothing more than"contextual observations dependent on his analysisof the capitalistproduction" during the industrial era (e.g., Guérreau,1980: 57; Bois, 1985: 189; Feddema 8cTichelman, 1978: 17; Dahl, 1998: 61). This content downloaded on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:42:54 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions ORIGINS OF MERCHANT CAPITALISM IN EUROPE 231 BRENNERIANAPPROACH The Brennerianapproach (unlike traditional orthodox Marxism) is stronglypreoccupied with the Middle Ages. However,this ap- proachalso has specificproblems since it tendsto: • focuspredominantly on classstruggle and modes of produc- tionand minimizethe circulation of trade(Brenner, 1977); • overemphasizeproduction, specifically agrarian, at the ex- pense of urbancentered production, • considerthe nobility as nothingmore than a "surplusextract- ingby extra-economic compulsion" oriented class in orderto indulgein so-called"non-productive consumption" (Brenner, 1985b: 232).4 Brennerremains encapsulated in a Marxisttradition that focuses predominantlyon the mode of productionand class warfarebe- tweenpeasants (the exploited) and thenobility (the exploiters) with- in a giventerritorial unit (the nation-statebeing the unit of analy- sis).5Essentially, he explainsthe economic success of the English nobility,in comparisonwith the Frenchnobility, as the difference betweena class in itself(France) and a class for itself(England) (Byres,1996: 67) whichhe labels "extraordinaryintra-class cohesive- ness"(Brenner, 1985b: 258).6 He also followsthe Marxist path which juxtaposes the "absolutismin France"versus "the developmentof 4 Does this statementimply that no investments(through spending) took place withincertain urban industries?"Desired goods included luxuriesas well as basic com- modities. kingsand princes,noblemen, town patricians and clergymenwere also the consumerspar excellenceof goods . theirconsumption preferences played a basic part in shapingmany of the commercialpolicies of the middle ages" (Miller,1976: 353); cf. also Abraham-Thisse(1993a: 27-70). Does thisimply that no investmentsoccurred in the countrysideeither? (Lewis, 1984: X, 513). Furthermore,the nobilitycould also be very activein trade,becoming a directcompetitor to peasants and merchantsselling goods on the market(e.g., Pal Pâch, 1994: III). 5 Brenner's thesis is essentially"a base consistingof unfreepeasants, the direct producers,and an aristocraticsuperstructure supported by rentswhich were extracted fromthe former. This criticalprocess of extraction was possiblebecause thelords owned the land" (Harvey,1991: 16-17). Cf. also Us 8c Soly (1993: 196) who followthe same "Brennerian"framework. 6 On theproblematic issue to whatextent one can alreadyperceive class formations in the Middle Ages, cf. the opposition between Brenner(1985a; 1985b) and Fossier (1991: 415-36) on one hand and Murray(1978: 14-17) and Raftis(1996: 128) on the other.Constable (1996: 301-23) seems to take a carefulintermediary position. This content downloaded on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:42:54 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 232 EricMielants classicalcapitalist relations on theland in England"(Brenner, 1985b: 275; 284-99). Brennerthen constructs his narrativein sucha wayit becomes either:a) a prelude to orthodoxMarxist stagist historical evolution,7ending with the "riseof a capitalistaristocracy presiding overan agriculturalrevolution" (Brenner, 1985b: 299) whichin turn broughtabout aan upwardspiral that extended into the industrial revolution"(Brenner, 1985b: 327) or b) a particularvariant of modernizationtheory (cf. infra), explaining why one territorialunit (England), unlike another one (France), managed to achieve an economic"take-off."8 In both cases, capitalismbecomes a characteristicof
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Age of Exploration
    ABSS8_ch05.qxd 2/9/07 10:54 AM Page 104 The Age of 5 Exploration FIGURE 5-1 1 This painting of Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas was done by Louis Prang and Company in 1893. What do you think Columbus might be doing in this painting? 104 Unit 1 Renaissance Europe ABSS8_ch05.qxd 2/9/07 10:54 AM Page 105 WORLDVIEW INQUIRY Geography What factors might motivate a society to venture into unknown regions Knowledge Time beyond its borders? Worldview Economy Beliefs 1492. On a beach on an island in the Caribbean Sea, two Values Society Taino girls were walking in the cool shade of the palm trees eating roasted sweet potatoes. uddenly one of the girls pointed out toward the In This Chapter ocean. The girls could hardly believe their eyes. S Imagine setting out across an Three large strange boats with huge sails were ocean that may or may not con- headed toward the shore. They could hear the tain sea monsters without a map shouts of the people on the boats in the distance. to guide you. Imagine sailing on The girls ran back toward their village to tell the ocean for 96 days with no everyone what they had seen. By the time they idea when you might see land returned to the beach with a crowd of curious again. Imagine being in charge of villagers, the people from the boats had already a group of people who you know landed. They had white skin, furry faces, and were are planning to murder you.
    [Show full text]
  • Middle Ages of the City
    Chapter 5 Merchants and Bowmen: Middle Ages of the City Once past, dreams and memories are the same thing. U. piersanti, L’uomo delle Cesane (1994) It’s a beautiful day in May. We find ourselves in Assisi, the city of saints Francis and Clare. The “Nobilissima parte de sopra” and the “Magnifica parte de sotto” (the Most Noble Upper Part and the Magnificent Lower Part), which represent the districts of the city’s theoretical medieval subdivision, challenge each oth- er to a series of competitions: solemn processions, feats of dexterity, songs, challenges launched in rhyme, stage shows. In this way, it renews the medieval tradition of canti del maggio (May songs), performed in the piazzas and under girls’ balconies by bands of youths wandering the city. A young woman is elect- ed Madonna Primavera (Lady Spring). We celebrate the end of winter, the return of the sun, flowers, and love. This medieval festival, resplendent with parades, flag bearers, ladies, knights, bowmen, and citizen magistrates, re- sounding with songs, tambourines, and trumpets, lasts three days and involves the entire population of Assisi, which finds itself, together with tourists and visitors, immersed in the atmosphere of a time that was. At night, when the fires and darkness move the shadows and the natural odors are strongest, the magic of the illusion of the past reaches its highest pitch: Three nights of May leave their mark on our hearts Fantasy blends with truth among sweet songs And ancient history returns to life once again The mad, ecstatic magic of our feast.1 Attested in the Middle Ages, the Assisan Calendimaggio (First of May) reap- peared in 1927 and was interrupted by the Second World War, only to resume in 1947.
    [Show full text]
  • Merchants and the Origins of Capitalism
    Merchants and the Origins of Capitalism Sophus A. Reinert Robert Fredona Working Paper 18-021 Merchants and the Origins of Capitalism Sophus A. Reinert Harvard Business School Robert Fredona Harvard Business School Working Paper 18-021 Copyright © 2017 by Sophus A. Reinert and Robert Fredona Working papers are in draft form. This working paper is distributed for purposes of comment and discussion only. It may not be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder. Copies of working papers are available from the author. Merchants and the Origins of Capitalism Sophus A. Reinert and Robert Fredona ABSTRACT: N.S.B. Gras, the father of Business History in the United States, argued that the era of mercantile capitalism was defined by the figure of the “sedentary merchant,” who managed his business from home, using correspondence and intermediaries, in contrast to the earlier “traveling merchant,” who accompanied his own goods to trade fairs. Taking this concept as its point of departure, this essay focuses on the predominantly Italian merchants who controlled the long‐distance East‐West trade of the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Until the opening of the Atlantic trade, the Mediterranean was Europe’s most important commercial zone and its trade enriched European civilization and its merchants developed the most important premodern mercantile innovations, from maritime insurance contracts and partnership agreements to the bill of exchange and double‐entry bookkeeping. Emerging from literate and numerate cultures, these merchants left behind an abundance of records that allows us to understand how their companies, especially the largest of them, were organized and managed.
    [Show full text]
  • Retail Industry Audit Technique Guide
    Retail Industry Audit Technique Guide NOTE: This guide is current through the publication date. Since changes may have occurred after the publication date that would affect the accuracy of this document, no guarantees are made concerning the technical accuracy after the publication date. All references to code sections are to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) unless otherwise specified. Publication Date: February 2009 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Description of the Retail Industry ................................................................................................ 5 Purpose for the Audit Technique Guide .................................................................................................... 5 Description of the Retailer ......................................................................................................................... 5 What Retailers Do ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Demographics of the Retail Industry ......................................................................................................... 5 Retail Entities ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Useful Retail Web Sites ............................................................................................................................. 6 Unique General Industry Terminology ......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • J Ewish Community and Civic Commune In
    Jewish community and civic commune in the high Middle Ages'' CHRISTOPH CLUSE 1. The following observations do not aim to provide a comprehensive phe­ nomenology of the J ewish community during the high and late medieval periods. Rather 1 wish to present the outlines of a model which describes the status of the Jewish community within the medieval town or city, and to ask how the concepts of >inclusion< and >exclusion< can serve to de­ scribe that status. Using a number of selected examples, almost exclusively drawn from the western regions of the medieval German empire, 1 will concentrate, first, on a comparison betweenJewish communities and other corporate bodies (>universitates<) during the high medieval period, and, secondly, on the means by which Jews and Jewish communities were included in the urban civic corporations of the later Middle Ages. To begin with, 1 should point out that the study of the medieval Jewish community and its various historical settings cannot draw on an overly rich tradition in German historical research. 1 The >general <historiography of towns and cities that originated in the nineteenth century accorded only sporadic attention to the J ews. Still, as early as 1866 the legal historian Otto Stobbe had paid attention to the relationship between the Jewish ::- The present article first appeared in a slightly longer German version entitled Die mittelalterliche jüdische Gemeinde als »Sondergemeinde« - eine Skizze. In: J OHANEK, Peter (ed. ): Sondergemeinden und Sonderbezirke in der Stadt der Vormoderne (Städteforschung, ser. A, vol. 52). Köln [et al.] 2005, pp. 29-51. Translations from the German research literature cited are my own.
    [Show full text]
  • 'In the Footsteps of the Ancients'
    ‘IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ANCIENTS’: THE ORIGINS OF HUMANISM FROM LOVATO TO BRUNI Ronald G. Witt BRILL ‘IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ANCIENTS’ STUDIES IN MEDIEVAL AND REFORMATION THOUGHT EDITED BY HEIKO A. OBERMAN, Tucson, Arizona IN COOPERATION WITH THOMAS A. BRADY, Jr., Berkeley, California ANDREW C. GOW, Edmonton, Alberta SUSAN C. KARANT-NUNN, Tucson, Arizona JÜRGEN MIETHKE, Heidelberg M. E. H. NICOLETTE MOUT, Leiden ANDREW PETTEGREE, St. Andrews MANFRED SCHULZE, Wuppertal VOLUME LXXIV RONALD G. WITT ‘IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ANCIENTS’ ‘IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ANCIENTS’ THE ORIGINS OF HUMANISM FROM LOVATO TO BRUNI BY RONALD G. WITT BRILL LEIDEN • BOSTON • KÖLN 2001 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Witt, Ronald G. ‘In the footsteps of the ancients’ : the origins of humanism from Lovato to Bruni / by Ronald G. Witt. p. cm. — (Studies in medieval and Reformation thought, ISSN 0585-6914 ; v. 74) Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 9004113975 (alk. paper) 1. Lovati, Lovato de, d. 1309. 2. Bruni, Leonardo, 1369-1444. 3. Latin literature, Medieval and modern—Italy—History and criticism. 4. Latin literature, Medieval and modern—France—History and criticism. 5. Latin literature, Medieval and modern—Classical influences. 6. Rhetoric, Ancient— Study and teaching—History—To 1500. 7. Humanism in literature. 8. Humanists—France. 9. Humanists—Italy. 10. Italy—Intellectual life 1268-1559. 11. France—Intellectual life—To 1500. PA8045.I6 W58 2000 808’.0945’09023—dc21 00–023546 CIP Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahme Witt, Ronald G.: ‘In the footsteps of the ancients’ : the origins of humanism from Lovato to Bruni / by Ronald G.
    [Show full text]
  • Transforming Food, Drug, and Mass Merchant Retail with AI Table of 04 Executive Summary Contents 06 Why Are We Focused on AI/ML in Retail?
    Transforming food, drug, and mass merchant retail with AI Table of 04 Executive summary contents 06 Why are we focused on AI/ML in retail? 07 Chapter 1: the state of retail Waves of change in retail Shifting behaviors and impact on retail Digital transformation and the power of AI/ML 15 Chapter 2: the value of AI/ML Overview of value chain and use cases High-value use cases Value at stake Implementation across retailers, today and in the future High-value use cases for Food, Drug, Mass merchant retailers Personalized promotions (redeemed online) Personalized promotions (redeemed offline/in-store) Loyalty program management Auto-populated and personalized online cart Customer care chatbots Personalized product recommendations Frictionless checkout Shelf-checking Automated task dispatch and in-store execution Picker routing 2 Table of Design to value Assortment optimization contents Pricing optimization Demand Planning Inventory optimization Omni-channel fulfillment optimization Warehousing operations optimization AI-enabled last mile 47 Chapter 3: accelerating delivery of AI/ML Achieved impact Enablers of value Barriers to value Barriers in the future 53 Chapter 4: AI/ML myths and how Google Cloud can help AI/ML myths debunked How Google Cloud can help 3 Executive summary The $15T global retail industry has been rocked with significant waves over the past decade, but the most recent disruption and global health crisis, COVID-19, has caused the biggest shock of all. Within several months, the global pandemic not only amplified differences between retail leaders and laggards, but seriously condensed the timeline available to play ‘catch up’ in digital transformation and e-commerce.
    [Show full text]
  • Trade in the Ancient World
    Trade in the Ancient World The seaborne con�merce of Rome was unsurpassed until relatively recent times. Evidence for this marine traffic comes from many sources, including the newly stimulated underwater archaeology by Lionel Casson built five ships, loaded them with wide arc. The arteries were the shipping have of ancient vessels come from the wine-worth its weight in gold at the lanes, the largest leading from points on graves of merchants who had a sketch I time-and sent them to Rome.. the perimeter to the huge capital at of the craft to which they owed their Every one of my ships went down .... Rome, and later at Constantinople. Over fortunes inscribed on their tombs. Find­ Neptune swallowed up 30 million ses­ them passed the great ships, leaving on ings of Egyptian pottery in Crete, of terces in one day... I built others, big­ regular schedules to carry the thousands Syrian glass in Italy, of Italian dishes in ger, better and luckiel·, loaded them with of bushels of wheat, the jars of oil and southern France and so on enable us to wine again, plus bacon, beans, perfume, wine and salt fish. Both large and small trace many lines of commerce. We can .slaves ....When the gods are behind vessels transported luxury goods ranging reconstruct the wine and oil trade from something it happens qUickly: I netted from Chinese silks to Athenian statuary. clay shipping jars, stamped with the 10 million sesterces on that one voyage. To piece together the details of this place of origin, whicq excavators have The time is the first century and the ancient commerce the investigator must unearthed at dozens of sites.
    [Show full text]
  • MERCHANTS and TRADERS a Supply and Demand Game
    W 411 MERCHANTS AND TRADERS A Supply and Demand Game Danielle Pleasant, 4-H Extension Agent, Johnson County MANAGEMENT OF APHIDS AND BYD IN TENNESSEE WHEAT 1 Tennessee 4-H Youth Development Merchants and Traders A Supply and Demand Game Skill Level Intermediate Introduction to Content Learner Outcomes This lesson introduces the concepts of The learner will be able to: supply and demand as well as uses key • Model a supply and demand relationship. terms from sixth-grade social studies. The • Model a bartering economic system. barter trading system and scenarios • Build Communication skills. reinforce the importance of commodities and currency used in ancient world Educational Standard(s) Supported history. This lesson explores bartering Social Studies 6.07, 6.18, 6.25, 6.38 from several different periods including Success Indicator Mesopotamian, Greek and Roman times. Learners will be successful if they: Understand a basic supply and demand relationship. Introduction to Methodology Time Needed “Merchants and Traders” is a simulation 45 minutes to 1 hour designed to teach the concepts of a barter trading system as well as supply and Materials List demand. The simulation is set from the Silk, gems, cotton balls, salt, tea bags, time period of approximately 4,000 BC Popsicle sticks, sheep pictures, coins. to 44 BC, which correlates to the ancient Enough for 10 “currency” (gems or coins) for world history curriculum covered under half of group and 10 “commodities” for half the current education standards. of group Author Pleasant, Danielle. 4-H Youth Development Agent, Johnson County. 3 Terms and Concepts Introduction Tips for Engagement Defined in supplemental information • Explain that students can trade as many items as they want at one time but can only trade once per round, just as they can Setting the Stage and Opening Questions buy a cart full of groceries but they will only go through the Begin by asking: checkout once.
    [Show full text]
  • Encyclopedia of Arts and Humanities Through the Eras
    AHTTE.MdvlErp.tpgs 9/14/04 12:12 PM Page 1 ARTS & HUMANITIES Through the Eras AHTTE.MdvlErp.tpgs 9/14/04 12:12 PM Page 3 ARTS & HUMANITIES \ Through the Eras Medieval Europe 814–1450 Kristen Mossler Figg and John Block Friedman, Editors 69742_AHTE_MEfm_iv-xxx.qxd 9/21/04 1:49 PM Page iv Arts and Humanities Through The Eras: Medieval Europe (814–1450) Kristen Mossler Figg and John Block Friedman Project Editor Indexing Services Product Design Rebecca Parks Barbara Koch Michelle DiMercurio Editorial Imaging and Multimedia Composition and Electronic Prepress Danielle Behr, Pamela A. Dear, Rachel J. Randy Bassett, Mary K. Grimes, Lezlie Light, Evi Seoud Kain, Ralph G. Zerbonia Mike Logusz, Kelly A. Quin Manufacturing Editorial Support Services Rights and Acquisitions Wendy Blurton Mark Springer Margaret Chamberlain, Shalice Shah-Caldwell © 2005 Thomson Gale, a part of the This publication is a creative work fully Cover photographs by permission of Corbis Thomson Corporation. protected by all applicable copyright laws, as (seated statue of Pharaoh Djoser) and well as by misappropriation, trade secret, AP/Wide World Photos (“The Creation of Thomson and Star Logo are trademarks and unfair competition, and other applicable laws. Adam and Eve” detail by Orvieto). Gale is a registered trademark used herein The authors and editors of this work have under license. added value to the underlying factual Since this page cannot legibly accommo- material herein through one or more of the date all copyright notices, the acknowledge- For more information, contact following: unique and original selection, ments constitute an extension of the Thomson Gale coordination, expression, arrangement, and copyright notice.
    [Show full text]
  • The Traders in Rome's Eastern Commerce
    THE TRADERS IN ROME‟S EASTERN COMMERCE THE TRADERS IN ROME‟S EASTERN COMMERCE By KYLE MCLEISTER, B.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University © Copyright by Kyle McLeister, September 2011 MASTER OF ARTS (2011) McMaster University (Classics) Hamilton, Ontario TITLE: The Traders in Rome‟s Eastern Commerce AUTHOR: Kyle McLeister, B.A. (Honours, University of Toronto) SUPERVISOR: Professor E.W. Haley NUMBER OF PAGES: v, 111 ii Abstract Rome‟s Eastern trade flourished for over two centuries, from reign of Augustus to that of Caracalla, bringing highly valuable goods from India and East Africa to consumers in Rome, and this thesis examines the traders who operated in Egypt and transported goods between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Chapter 1 examines the identities of the traders, in terms of ethnicity, wealth, and social standing, and also examines the evidence for the involvement of the imperial family in the Eastern trade, while Chapter 2 analyzes the many different customs dues, transit tolls, and other taxes imposed upon Eastern traders operating in Egypt. Chapter 3 presents an analysis of customs abuses, including the forms of abuses which occurred, legislative attempts to curb abuses, and the frequency of abuses. Chapter 4 investigates the potential for profits in the Eastern trade, taking into consideration the various expenses, such as transport fees and customs dues, incurred in the course of transporting the goods across Egypt, as well as the evidence for the value of Eastern goods at Rome.
    [Show full text]
  • The Imperial City of Cologne of City Imperial The
    THE EARLY MEDIEVAL NORTH ATLANTIC Huffman The Imperial City of Cologne Joseph P. Huffman The Imperial City of Cologne From Roman Colony to Medieval Metropolis (19 B.C.-1125 A.D.) The Imperial City of Cologne The Early Medieval North Atlantic This series provides a publishing platform for research on the history, cultures, and societies that laced the North Sea from the Migration Period at the twilight of the Roman Empire to the eleventh century. The point of departure for this series is the commitment to regarding the North Atlantic as a centre, rather than a periphery, thus connecting the histories of peoples and communities traditionally treated in isolation: Anglo- Saxons, Scandinavians / Vikings, Celtic communities, Baltic communities, the Franks, etc. From this perspective new insights can be made into processes of transformation, economic and cultural exchange, the formation of identities, etc. It also allows for the inclusion of more distant cultures – such as Greenland, North America, and Russia – which are of increasing interest to scholars in this research context. Series Editors Marjolein Stern, Gent University Charlene Eska, Virginia Tech Julianna Grigg, Monash University The Imperial City of Cologne From Roman Colony to Medieval Metropolis (19 B.C.-A.D. 1125) Joseph P. Huffman Amsterdam University Press Cover illustrations: Emperor Augustus Caesar (14-24 A.D. by Kyllos?) (left), and Grosses Romanisches Stadtsiegel (ca. 1149) (right) © Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln Cover design: Coördesign, Leiden Lay-out: Crius Group, Hulshout isbn 978 94 6298 822 4 e-isbn 978 90 4854 024 2 (pdf) doi 10.5117/9789462988224 nur 684 © Joseph P. Huffman / Amsterdam University Press B.V., Amsterdam 2018 All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]