Bruges, Cradle of Capitalism, 1280-1390Teeming with merchants from all over Europe, medieval Bruges provides an early model of a great capitalist city. Bruges established a sophisticated money market and an elaborate network of agents and brokers. Moreover, it promoted co-operation between merchants of various nations. In this book James Murray explores how Bruges became the commercial capital of northern Europe in the late fourteenth century. He argues that a combination of fortuitous changes such as the shift to sea-borne commerce and the extraordinary efforts of the city's population served to shape a great commercial centre. Areas explored include the political history of Bruges, its position as a node and network, the wool, cloth and gold trade and the role of women in the market. This book serves not only as a case-study in medieval economic history, but also as a social and cultural history of medieval Bruges. |
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aldermen Antwerp Artevelde Banking and Credit bathhouses became Bijdrage book transfers brokers Brugeois Bruges hostellers Bruges market Bruges money changers Bruges's Brugge Brussels bullion Burg Burgundian Cahorsin canal chapter church city accounts city's coins Collard de Marke comital commercial confiscation count count of Flanders Damme David Nicholas Donatian's drapers economic English wool example exchange export fifteenth century Flemish foreign merchants fourteenth century France French Geschiedenis Ghent Gilliodts-van Severen gold Goldbeter Grote Markt guild Hanse merchants hostellers Houtte ibid important Jakop Jehan Kortrijk loans Louis of Male Low Countries Marechal Marke accounts Medieval Flanders mendicant merchant community money changers pawnbrokers payment percent Philip Philip the Bold Pieter political poorters Prevenier privileges prostitution purchased records Rekenkamer rented residence role Roover Ruweel Ryckaert Sluis social Stedenatlas textile urban Vandewalle Vlaanderen weavers Werveke Willem wine women wool Wyffels Ypres Zwin