European Proto-Industrialization

An introduction to 'proto-industrialization', summarizing the debates and examining various countries.

This volume provides an essential guide to an important, yet often confusing field of economic and social history - the growth of rural export industries between about 1500 and 1800. It surveys debates and research, and includes essays by experts on various European countries.This collection of essays provides an introduction to 'proto-industrialization': the growth of export-oriented domestic industries which took place all over Europe between about 1500 and 1800. Often these industries expanded alongside agriculture, without advanced technology or centralised factories. Since the 1970s numerous theories have been proposed, arguing that proto-industrialization transformed demographic behaviour, social structure and traditional institutions, and was a major cause of capitalism and factory industrialisation. European Proto-Industrialization summarises the theories and criticisms, and includes chapters written by experts on different European countries. It provides an essential guide to an important, yet often confusing, field of economic and social history.