Publisher's description:
The late Middle Ages witnessed the transformation of the county of Holland from a peripheral agrarian region to a highly commercialised and urbanised one. This book examines how the organisation of commodity markets contributed to this remarkable development. Comparing Holland to England and Flanders, the book shows that Holland’s specific history of reclamation and settlement had given rise to a favourable balance of powers between state, nobility, towns and rural communities that reduced opportunities for rent-seeking and favoured the rise of efficient markets. This allowed burghers, peasants and fishermen to take full advantage of new opportunities presented by changing economic and ecological circumstances in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries.

Table of contents:
List of Tables
List of Illustrations
List of Abbreviations
Preface
1. Introduction
PART I: THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK: TRADE VENUES
2. Fairs
3. Rural markets c. 1200 – c. 1350: a late start?
4. New institutions for rural trade (c. 1350 – c. 1450)
5. The Dordrecht staple
PART II: THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK: RULES AND PRACTICES
6. Weighing and measuring
7. Contract enforcement
PART III: MARKET PERFORMANCE: QUANTITATIVE TESTS
8. Market integration
9. Market orientation
10. Conclusions
APPENDICES
Appendix A. Survey of fairs
Appendix B. Rural weigh houses in the north of Holland around 1400
Appendix C. Charters of urban liberties
Appendix D. Wheat prices
References
Index.