Oscar Gelderblom
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691142883
- eISBN:
- 9781400848591
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691142883.003.0002
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Economic History
This chapter examines how the competition between neighboring ports led Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam to adapt institutional arrangements to the needs of international traders. It considers how ...
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This chapter examines how the competition between neighboring ports led Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam to adapt institutional arrangements to the needs of international traders. It considers how Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam were able to overcome the negative effects of urban competition and develop an institutional framework conducive to the growth of trade. It explores what the three commercial cities did to secure a central position in domestic and international trade during the period, focusing on the important role played by the urban magistrates. The chapter shows that the creation of more inclusive commercial regimes allowed Bruges, Antwerp, and particularly Amsterdam to treat all merchants equally by means of a commercial infrastructure that served the merchant community at large.Less
This chapter examines how the competition between neighboring ports led Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam to adapt institutional arrangements to the needs of international traders. It considers how Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam were able to overcome the negative effects of urban competition and develop an institutional framework conducive to the growth of trade. It explores what the three commercial cities did to secure a central position in domestic and international trade during the period, focusing on the important role played by the urban magistrates. The chapter shows that the creation of more inclusive commercial regimes allowed Bruges, Antwerp, and particularly Amsterdam to treat all merchants equally by means of a commercial infrastructure that served the merchant community at large.
Oscar Gelderblom
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691142883
- eISBN:
- 9781400848591
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691142883.003.0006
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Economic History
This chapter examines the protective measures implemented by merchants and rulers in Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam to deal with violent threats such as theft, robbery, or even outright warfare. It ...
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This chapter examines the protective measures implemented by merchants and rulers in Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam to deal with violent threats such as theft, robbery, or even outright warfare. It shows that the existence of an international network of commercial cities created strong incentives for local and central governments to offer protection to international traders to enhance the position of individual cities in this network. It also considers how imminent changes in a city's position in the international urban hierarchy led to the massive use of force, citing as examples the Flemish Revolt and the Dutch Revolt. Finally, it discusses the unification of the Habsburgs as rulers of the Netherlands and its impact on the safety of merchants, along with the rise of the Dutch Republic.Less
This chapter examines the protective measures implemented by merchants and rulers in Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam to deal with violent threats such as theft, robbery, or even outright warfare. It shows that the existence of an international network of commercial cities created strong incentives for local and central governments to offer protection to international traders to enhance the position of individual cities in this network. It also considers how imminent changes in a city's position in the international urban hierarchy led to the massive use of force, citing as examples the Flemish Revolt and the Dutch Revolt. Finally, it discusses the unification of the Habsburgs as rulers of the Netherlands and its impact on the safety of merchants, along with the rise of the Dutch Republic.
Oscar Gelderblom
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691142883
- eISBN:
- 9781400848591
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691142883.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Economic History
This book develops a model of institutional change in European commerce based on urban competition. Cities continuously competed with each other by adapting commercial, legal, and fin ancial ...
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This book develops a model of institutional change in European commerce based on urban competition. Cities continuously competed with each other by adapting commercial, legal, and fin ancial institutions to the evolving needs of merchants. The book traces the successive rise of Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam as commercial cities between 1250 and 1650, showing how dominant cities feared being displaced by challengers while lesser ones sought to keep up by cultivating policies favorable to trade. It argues that it was this competitive urban network that promoted open access institutions in the Low Countries, and emphasizes the central role played by the urban magistrates in fostering these inclusive institutional arrangements. The book describes how the city fathers resisted the predatory or reckless actions of their territorial rulers, and how their nonrestrictive approach to commercial life succeeded in attracting merchants from all over Europe. It intervenes in an important debate on the growth of trade in Europe before the Industrial Revolution. Challenging influential theories that attribute this commercial expansion to the political strength of merchants, the book demonstrates how urban competition fostered the creation of inclusive institutions in international trade.Less
This book develops a model of institutional change in European commerce based on urban competition. Cities continuously competed with each other by adapting commercial, legal, and fin ancial institutions to the evolving needs of merchants. The book traces the successive rise of Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam as commercial cities between 1250 and 1650, showing how dominant cities feared being displaced by challengers while lesser ones sought to keep up by cultivating policies favorable to trade. It argues that it was this competitive urban network that promoted open access institutions in the Low Countries, and emphasizes the central role played by the urban magistrates in fostering these inclusive institutional arrangements. The book describes how the city fathers resisted the predatory or reckless actions of their territorial rulers, and how their nonrestrictive approach to commercial life succeeded in attracting merchants from all over Europe. It intervenes in an important debate on the growth of trade in Europe before the Industrial Revolution. Challenging influential theories that attribute this commercial expansion to the political strength of merchants, the book demonstrates how urban competition fostered the creation of inclusive institutions in international trade.
C. A. Bayly
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- September 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780198077466
- eISBN:
- 9780199081110
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198077466.003.0024
- Subject:
- History, Economic History
This chapter focuses on the political economy of small towns in north India and the political pressure experienced by the qasbah. It suggests that the history of gentry qasbah and commercial city ...
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This chapter focuses on the political economy of small towns in north India and the political pressure experienced by the qasbah. It suggests that the history of gentry qasbah and commercial city illustrates more general themes in the society and politics of north India and that the north Indian Muslim qasbah represents some of the features of the classic Islamic city from Algeria to Indonesia. It also highlights the importance of the gentry qasbah in the history of political separatism in north India given that small towns were the scenes of conflict between the two major religious communities in the 1830s.Less
This chapter focuses on the political economy of small towns in north India and the political pressure experienced by the qasbah. It suggests that the history of gentry qasbah and commercial city illustrates more general themes in the society and politics of north India and that the north Indian Muslim qasbah represents some of the features of the classic Islamic city from Algeria to Indonesia. It also highlights the importance of the gentry qasbah in the history of political separatism in north India given that small towns were the scenes of conflict between the two major religious communities in the 1830s.
