
Modelling the Middle Ages
The History and Theory of England's Economic Development
Oxford University Press
Published on 3. May 2001
Book
Hardback
267 pages
978-0-19-924411-9 (ISBN)
Description
Most of what has been written on the economy of the middle ages is deeply influenced by abstract concepts and theories. The most powerful and popular of these guiding beliefs are derived from intellectual foundations laid down in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by Adam Smith, Johan von Thuenen, Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, and Karl Marx. In the hands of twentieth-century historians and social scientists these venerable ideas have been moulded into three grand explanatory ideas which continue to dominate interpretations of economic development. These trumpet in turn the claims of 'commercialization', 'population and resources', or 'class power and property relations' as the prime movers of historical change. In this highly original book John Hatcher and Mark Bailey examine the structure and test the validity of these conflicting models from a variety of perspectives. In the course of their investigations they provide not only detailed reconstructions of the economic history of England in the middle ages and sustained critical commentaries on the work of leading historians, but also discussions of the philosophy and methods of history and the social sciences. The result is a short and readily intelligible introduction to medieval economic history, an up-to-date critique of established models, and a succinct treatise on historiographical method.
Reviews / Votes
Intriguing ... highly enjoyable and provocative. * The Agricultural History Review * Lucid, learned, and at times passionate ... the book is important and will undoubtedly be found indispensable for many years to come. * English Historical Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
3 figures
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
518 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-924411-9 (9780199244119)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

John Hatcher | Mark Bailey
Modelling the Middle Ages
The History and Theory of England's Economic Development
Book
05/2001
Oxford University Press
€95.40
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Author
Professor of Economic and Social HistoryProfessor of Economic and Social History, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Headmaster of Leeds Grammar SchoolHeadmaster of Leeds Grammar School
Content
1. Methods and Models ; 2. Population and Resources ; 3. Class Power and Property Relations ; 4. Commercialization, Markets, and Technology ; 5. The Importance of Time and Place ; 6. Beyond the Classic Supermodels ; Guide to Further Reading