Jacques Le Goff sets out in this book to explain the role of money, or rather of the various types of money, in the economy, life and mentalities of the Middle Ages. He seeks also to explain how, in a society dominated by religion, the Church viewed money, and how it taught Christians what attitudes they should adopt towards it and towards the uses to which it could be put. He shows that, although money played an important role in the rise of towns and trade and in state formation, there was no capitalism but only a pre-capitalism in the Middle Ages, even by their end, in the absence of a truly global market. This is why economic development remained slow and limited, in spite of some remarkable success stories. It was a period in which it was as important to give money as it was to earn it. True wealth was not yet the wealth of this world, even though money played an increasingly large role in reality and in mentalities.
No similar discussion of this subject, aimed at a wide readership, has previously been published. Written by one of the greatest medievalists, this book will be recognized as a standard work on the topic.
About the Author
Jacques Le Goff is Professor of History, and formerly head of École des hautes études en sciences sociales. He was a leading figure in the Annales School and his book Medieval Civilization is a classic.
Features
This is the first accessible discussion of the role of money in the life and economy of the Middle Ages.
The author pays particular attention to the way in which the Church viewed money, and how it taught Christians what attitudes they should adopt towards it and towards the uses to which it could be put.
He shows that, although money played an important role in the rise of towns and in state formation, there was no capitalism but only a pre-capitalism in the Middle Ages. This is why economic development remained slow and limited, in spite of some remarkable success stories.
This compelling new work will appeal to students of economic and medieval history, as well as the interested general reader.
