Global History: The Development of Global Economic Structures (PDF)

Global History The Development of Global Economic Structures from the 13th to 18th Centuries Course Introduction 9 Sessions 1 - Course Introduction 2 – Economic Origins in Venice 3 – Asian Development in the Song Dynasty Period (+Synthesis) 4 – Iberian Global Expansion (+Synthe...

Global History The Development of Global Economic Structures from the 13th to 18th Centuries Course Introduction 9 Sessions 1 - Course Introduction 2 – Economic Origins in Venice 3 – Asian Development in the Song Dynasty Period (+Synthesis) 4 – Iberian Global Expansion (+Synthesis) 5 – Amsterdam and Globalism (+Synthesis) 6 – The Growth of Atlantic Colonial Trade(Deadline for Written Reports) (+Synthesis) 7 – Slavery and Triangular Trade (+Synthesis) 8 – Empire and Industry (+Synthesis) 9 – A Review (+Synthesis) Then, an exam in December How to Succeed in this Course An introduction to Historical Concepts and Ideas Course Introduction- The Big Questions What is Capitalism? Why are some countries rich and others poor? How are capitalism and the development modern world linked? What was the first “capitalist” society? The 5 Cs of the Historical Approach Change Over Time – How have our world, cultures, and ideas changed (stayed the same)? Causality – Why did changes or events happen? Context – What do changes tell us about the past and the present? Complexity – How can we do more than simply record events? Contingency – Did events have to happen a certain way or not? Why study Global History? Towards a Working Definition of Capitalism Marx – labor power, production, and alienation Weber – rational, peaceful free exchange to purse renewed capital Smith – the pursuit of self-interest and the “invisible hand” of the free market Braudel – the “anti-market”, a centralization of power, an adaptation into social hierarchies Karl Marx (1818-1883) “Capital is money, capital is commodities. By virtue of it being value, it has acquired the occult ability to add value to itself. It brings forth living offspring, or, at the least, lays golden eggs.” Max Weber (1864 – 1920) “..capitalism is identical with the pursuit of profit, and forever renewed profit, by means of continuous, rational, capitalistic enterprise.” Adam Smith (1723-1790) “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our necessities but of their advantages.” Fernand Braudel (1902-1985) 3 “zones of life” - Material life - Economic life - The “anti-market” Capitalism or Mercantilism? Both geared towards profit Mercantilism – A single global pie, shared by all Capitalism – An ever-expanding pie, growing from competition The Foundations of Capital in the European Middle Ages High Middle Ages 900-1300 The Manorial/Seignorial System- A Medieval Economy Highly Centralised – An efficient centre of law, power, military Violent social control and limitation An extension of feudal power Peasant based subsistence farming The Church as a Centre for Trade In many areas the church was a quasi-government after the Roman Empire Patronage and Investment: artists, scholars, and craftsmen, which stimulated innovation and trade Banking and Finance: Religious institutions, provided safe storage for wealth Trade Routes and Infrastructure: waypoints along trade routes, offering shelter Education and Literacy: a skilled workforce that contributed to the growth of trade and economic activities in medieval Europe The Vikings- Trading North and South Replacing Roman Trade in the West Vikings as Traders Highly Mobile Long Range expeditions The Results of the Viking Age New Trade Routes Inter-European Diplomacy The Militarisation of the Church Kingdoms established along defined border in the East against other “barbarians” Pax Europa?- A Basis for Economic Stability Internal Strife vs External Conflict Centralization of power and the beginnings of “national” identities Opportunities for inter-community trade and travel The Crusades largely ended war inside Europe The Black Death (1346-1353)- Social and Economic Consequences Killed around 50 million people (anywhere between 35-60% of the population of Europe) Brief end to long-distance trade Reduction in economic inequality  The richest 10% didn’t regain the 20-25% of wealth lost until the 17th century Serf movement Long-term – High wages as a drive for innovation Increased the potential for wealth and freedom The eventual end of serfdom Urban growth  “The medieval proverb nulle terre sans seigneur [There is no land without its lord] is thereby replaced by that other proverb, l'argent n'a pas de maître [Money knows no master], wherein is expressed the complete domination of dead matter over man.” ― Karl Marx, Economic & Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 Women in the European Medieval Economy Wives and mothers (Biblical) Property rights as a tool of power Basic textile and agricultural industries Brief possible “golden age” after the black plague