1st Edition
The Birth of the Western Economy Economic Aspects of the Dark Ages
First Published in 2005. The Carolingian Empire, short-lived as it was, is the central feature of those centuries of European history which are usefully if now somewhat unfashionably known as the Dark Ages. This book looks at complexity and diversity of economic conditions and economic aspects of the Dark Age
Foreword by Philip Grierson page ix
Introduction xiii
Part I. The Component Forces
I The Roman World: state control in the late Empire 3
II The Roman World: conditions of rural life 18
III The Germanic ‘World: its primitive economy 29
IV The Christian Church: its economic doctrine: the result of its triumph 48
Part II. The Merovingian Age
I Farming and Agriculture in the very early Middle Ages: old theories and new horizons 59
II Farming in the very early Middle Ages (cont.): Mansus, Villa and Husbandry 73
III The Eclipse of Town Life and the influence of the Church on its evolution 97
IV The so-called ‘Grand Commerce’ of the Merovingian Period 117
V Coinage and Currency. The seas and shipping 126
Part III. The Early Carolingians: A Temporary Restoration
I Charlemagne and a controlled economy. Reform of the Currency 143
II Trade and Barter under the Early Carolingians page 155
III The ‘Villa’ of Charlemagne’s time: Farming and Manufacture 176
IV The Structure of the Great Estate and the origin of the rural ‘Seigneurie’ 190
Part IV. The Laborious Birth of a Western Civilization
I The Vikings and Scandinavian Expansion 211
II The Resurgence of Town Life and of Commercial Activity 235
III The Expansion and Development of Agriculture in the Eleventh Century 268
Conclusion 301
Bibliography 311
Index 329
Biography
M. Latouche was Professor of Mediev al History at the University of Grenoble, member of the Historical Commission of the National Centre of Scientific Research, and is the author of a number of books on the Medieval period.
