The subtitle: ‘Birth of the Businessman in the Middle Ages’ is more explicit about the nature of this work. Jean Favier evokes the great fairs, the major economic centers, where decisions were made. A bit like our current Europe before its time.
While authority at this time belongs to the prince, this same prince is dependent on the economy, on money (the lifeblood of war). Thus, Florence is the economic center of the West. The Florentines trade with the known world. Other regions such as the Hanseatic League, emerging England, and the king of France organizing his kingdom around Paris, also have economic centers from which their growth develops.
The heart of economic life, of commerce, at this time is found in Florence, Venice, and Genoa. It is understood that exchanges are mainly maritime. This is where the interest of this book lies.
The author shows us the birth of banking, credit, the bill of exchange, a nascent capitalism, and insurance. All of this is complicated in this Europe under the papal authority by the prohibition of usury and interest-bearing loans. The Pope himself, through his temporal power, is an economic agent. He has to maneuver, and tricks will allow the emergence of money lending.
This work is a valuable tool for better understanding this medieval period, often illustrated as a long slumber, whereas the Middle Ages, especially in Italy, are in fact very active with Florentine, Genoan, and Venetian merchants and businessmen.
A period of maturation of ideas from which the Renaissance would later emerge.
Thierry Jan
