An Economic History of the World Since 1400

Differences between economic history and the history of economics, along with the primary concerns of current economic historians. It also watersheds the economic moments of the last 500 years and explains why modern economic history began around 1400.

Examining the state of the global economy circa 1400, when Europe was at the bottom of the economic success ladder; the broad economic outlines of China, India, and the Islamic world; how Europe laid groundwork for the new capitalist world system.

How Europe's manorial societies helped develop the structures and institutions that would lead to the medieval commercial revolution; what daily life was like on a manor; medieval trade fairs; how wool-cloth production redefined northwestern Europe.

Examining how the Black Death shut down trade routes, lowered economic productivity, disrupted supply and demand, depressed land value and ultimately made the medieval feudal system untenable.

After the Black Death, urban revolts placed a strong emphasis on the rights of European peasants, which also led to the creation of guilds and monopolies that reflected the self-interests of those in control of urban power structures.

Examining what the age of exploration meant to the European economy; the voyages of explorers like Columbus and Magellan; why Asians didn't succeed at discovering a sea route to the West; new European commercial systems created in the Americas.