Economic and Social History of the Early Modern Age
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to stimulate students' autonomous reflection on economic and social systems, through in-depth knowledge of the fundamental concepts and issues of European economic and social history, state policies and international economic relations, starting from the transformation that took place between the 17th century and the first English industrial revolution, up to the early 19th century. The course is aimed at students of the master degree course in Historical Sciences of the Faculty of Humanities and at those enrolled in master degrees who intend to acquire advanced knowledge and skills on the economic and social history of the modern age.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: students should gain a better understanding of the main historical-economic concepts and fundamental topics of the economic and social history of the early modern age in the different space-time contexts and should be able to master the main historiographical issues.
Skills: be able to interpret data and information regarding the history of a given economy, linking facts and phenomena and understanding the interrelationships between the various historical aspects (institutional, economic, political and social); knowing how to communicate their knowledge coherently and organically, using the terminology and concepts of the discipline; being able to critically read primary sources and scientific texts relating to the historical period under examination.
Skills: be able to interpret data and information regarding the history of a given economy, linking facts and phenomena and understanding the interrelationships between the various historical aspects (institutional, economic, political and social); knowing how to communicate their knowledge coherently and organically, using the terminology and concepts of the discipline; being able to critically read primary sources and scientific texts relating to the historical period under examination.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Title: From Indian Calicò to Chinese Tea: relations between Europe and Asia in the international economy (17th-19th centuries)
The course aims to analyze the structure of economic relations between Europe and Asia, from the 17th to 19th centuries, following the progressive integration of the two continents into the world economy.
The reconstruction will take into account the most recent historiographical results, which have led to a re-evaluation of the degree of development achieved by Asia during the early modern age, underlining its high standard of living, its productive and commercial capacities and its influence on the Western world, also from the point of view of taste and consumer goods. According to some scholars, numerous 'surprising resemblances' can be found between Asia and Europe up to the industrial revolution, while the differences in development will be subsequent and the result of chance or the temporary fortune of Europeans. So, why will the development paths of the two continents diverge from the 19th century onwards, opening such a wide gap that it will only be partially filled in recent times? For other historians, this 'Great divergence' is actually the result of different transformations that already developed during the modern age in the economic, social and cultural spheres.
In light of the results derived from this debate, the lessons will focus in particular on the aims, tools, strategies and economic policies followed by merchants and European states - in strong competition with each other - in penetrating Asian markets and in organizing contacts, settlements, exchanges and trade routes. At the same time, the course will examine the different economic and social realities (India, China, Japan, Indonesia), their functioning and evolution and their relations in the Pacific and Indian Ocean area. It will also address the reciprocal influences in the field of consumption and fashion, and the imitative phenomena by Europeans of textiles, porcelain, objects and production processes. Within this path of analysis, the role played by the East India Companies (English: EIC, 1600-1858; Dutch: VOC, 1602-1799 and French, 1664-1793). Commercial Companies were fundamental tools of the European presence in Asia. Their role and the abolition of the monopolies they enjoyed have been the subject of important debates, starting with that undertaken by Adam Smith in his fundamental volume on Nature and the Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776).
International production and commercial networks of global products will also be rebuilt, such as colourful Indian cotton fabrics, fine Chinese silks, ceramics, tea, and opium, which will be the subject of specific in-depth studies, also from a cultural point of view.
In the last part, the course will analyze the 19th century, the progressive transformation of the Indian economy by the British and the forced opening of the markets of China (with the two opium wars) and Japan, on which Westerners imposed trading conditions and 'unequal' treaties, that is, unfavourable for Asian countries.
The course aims to analyze the structure of economic relations between Europe and Asia, from the 17th to 19th centuries, following the progressive integration of the two continents into the world economy.
The reconstruction will take into account the most recent historiographical results, which have led to a re-evaluation of the degree of development achieved by Asia during the early modern age, underlining its high standard of living, its productive and commercial capacities and its influence on the Western world, also from the point of view of taste and consumer goods. According to some scholars, numerous 'surprising resemblances' can be found between Asia and Europe up to the industrial revolution, while the differences in development will be subsequent and the result of chance or the temporary fortune of Europeans. So, why will the development paths of the two continents diverge from the 19th century onwards, opening such a wide gap that it will only be partially filled in recent times? For other historians, this 'Great divergence' is actually the result of different transformations that already developed during the modern age in the economic, social and cultural spheres.
In light of the results derived from this debate, the lessons will focus in particular on the aims, tools, strategies and economic policies followed by merchants and European states - in strong competition with each other - in penetrating Asian markets and in organizing contacts, settlements, exchanges and trade routes. At the same time, the course will examine the different economic and social realities (India, China, Japan, Indonesia), their functioning and evolution and their relations in the Pacific and Indian Ocean area. It will also address the reciprocal influences in the field of consumption and fashion, and the imitative phenomena by Europeans of textiles, porcelain, objects and production processes. Within this path of analysis, the role played by the East India Companies (English: EIC, 1600-1858; Dutch: VOC, 1602-1799 and French, 1664-1793). Commercial Companies were fundamental tools of the European presence in Asia. Their role and the abolition of the monopolies they enjoyed have been the subject of important debates, starting with that undertaken by Adam Smith in his fundamental volume on Nature and the Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776).
International production and commercial networks of global products will also be rebuilt, such as colourful Indian cotton fabrics, fine Chinese silks, ceramics, tea, and opium, which will be the subject of specific in-depth studies, also from a cultural point of view.
In the last part, the course will analyze the 19th century, the progressive transformation of the Indian economy by the British and the forced opening of the markets of China (with the two opium wars) and Japan, on which Westerners imposed trading conditions and 'unequal' treaties, that is, unfavourable for Asian countries.
Prerequisites for admission
No specific prerequisites (different from those requested for access to the degree program) are compulsory.
Teaching methods
The course topics will be addressed through lectures, and integrated with study materials (maps, tables, graphs, papers, websites, videos, primary and printed sources). The discussion around the themes and documents, the participation in the critical reflection and the initiatives proposed by the teacher will constitute essential moments of the course. Learning materials will be made available from time to time by the teacher on the Ariel teaching website and will form part of the study programme for classroom students. Attending the course is compulsory to take the exam with the attending student's program.
Teaching Resources
Attending students (1,2,3):
1. learning materials provided during the course
2. one texts (6CFU) or two texts (9CFU) chosen from the following list:
-.Silvia A. Conca Messina, Profitti del potere. Stato ed economia nell'Europa moderna, Laterza, 2016
- Findley R., O'Rourke K., Potere e ricchezza. Una storia economica del mondo (a cura di G. Conti, M.C. Schisani), Utet Università, 2016, chapters 1, 2, 3 e 4 (pp. 81-262 and 357-487)
- Osterhammel, Jürgen, Storia della Cina moderna: secc. 18-20, Einaudi, 1992, the first section (p. 228 included- chapter 9 included).
3. together with 2 articles/chapters (both for 9CFU and 6CFU) chosen from the following list (all available online, via Minerva Exlibris or Jstor Unimi):
-.Beverly Lemire, and Genovese Maddalena. "Plasmare la domanda, creare la moda: l'Asia, l'Europa e il commercio dei cotoni indiani (XIV-XIX secc.)." Quaderni Storici 41, no. 122 (2) (2006): 481-507. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779548.
- Ciriacono, Salvatore (2007). "Scambi commerciali e produzione di beni di lusso nel Giappone del periodo Edo. Una lettura storiografica." Quaderni Storici, vol. 42, no. 125 (2), 2007, pp. 591-621. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779598
- Riello Giorgio and Roy Tirthankar (2009), Introduction: the World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850, in Riello, G., & Roy, T. (Eds.), How India Clothed the World: The World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850: Brill. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1163/j.ctv2gjwskd
- Goody, J. (1996). Cap. 4, The growth of Indian commerce and industry. In The East in the West (pp. 113-137). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/east-in-the-west/D045038BC3C91471FFBD97FD20C5AC98
- Roy, Tirthankar. (2020). Cap. 2, Transition to Colonialism 1707-1857 in The Economic History of India, 1857-2010 (pp.17-65): Oxford University Press. https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190128296.001.0001/oso-9780190128296-chapter-2
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 3 Out of the Shadows. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.10
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 8 The Toxic Exchange. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.15
Possible additional elective readings will be indicated on the MyAriel website.
Non attending students (1 and 2):
1. three texts (9 CFU) or two 2 texts (6CFU) chosen from the following list:
- Silvia A. Conca Messina, Profitti del potere. Stato ed economia nell'Europa moderna, Laterza 2016
-. Findley R., O'Rourke K., Potere e ricchezza. Una storia economica del mondo (a cura di G. Conti, M.C. Schisani), Utet Università, 2016, chapters 1, 2, 3 e 4 (pp. 81-262 eand357-487)
-. Osterhammel, Jürgen, Storia della Cina moderna: secc. 18-20, Einaudi, 1992, (up to p. 228 - chapter Nine included).
2. together with 2 articles/chapters (both for 9CFU and 6CFU) chosen from the following list (all available online, via Minerva Exlibris or Jstor Unimi):
-. Beverly Lemire, and Genovese Maddalena. "Plasmare la domanda, creare la moda: l'Asia, l'Europa e il commercio dei cotoni indiani (XIV-XIX secc.)." Quaderni Storici 41, no. 122 (2) (2006): 481-507. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779548.
- Ciriacono, Salvatore (2007). "Scambi commerciali e produzione di beni di lusso nel Giappone del periodo Edo. Una lettura storiografica." Quaderni Storici, vol. 42, no. 125 (2), 2007, pp. 591-621. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779598
- Riello Giorgio and Roy Tirthankar (2009), Introduction: the World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850, in Riello, G., & Roy, T. (Eds.), How India Clothed the World: The World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850: Brill. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1163/j.ctv2gjwskd
- Goody, J. (1996). Cap. 4, The growth of Indian commerce and industry. In The East in the West (pp. 113-137). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/east-in-the-west/D045038BC3C91471FFBD97FD20C5AC98
- Roy, Tirthankar. (2020). Cap. 2, Transition to Colonialism 1707-1857 in The Economic History of India, 1857-2010 (pp.17-65): Oxford University Press. https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190128296.001.0001/oso-9780190128296-chapter-2
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 3 Out of the Shadows. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.10
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 8 The Toxic Exchange. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.15
Possible additional elective readings will be indicated on the MyAriel website of the course.
Erasmus students who wish to take the exam in English are invited to email the teacher well in advance before the scheduled exam session.
1. learning materials provided during the course
2. one texts (6CFU) or two texts (9CFU) chosen from the following list:
-.Silvia A. Conca Messina, Profitti del potere. Stato ed economia nell'Europa moderna, Laterza, 2016
- Findley R., O'Rourke K., Potere e ricchezza. Una storia economica del mondo (a cura di G. Conti, M.C. Schisani), Utet Università, 2016, chapters 1, 2, 3 e 4 (pp. 81-262 and 357-487)
- Osterhammel, Jürgen, Storia della Cina moderna: secc. 18-20, Einaudi, 1992, the first section (p. 228 included- chapter 9 included).
3. together with 2 articles/chapters (both for 9CFU and 6CFU) chosen from the following list (all available online, via Minerva Exlibris or Jstor Unimi):
-.Beverly Lemire, and Genovese Maddalena. "Plasmare la domanda, creare la moda: l'Asia, l'Europa e il commercio dei cotoni indiani (XIV-XIX secc.)." Quaderni Storici 41, no. 122 (2) (2006): 481-507. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779548.
- Ciriacono, Salvatore (2007). "Scambi commerciali e produzione di beni di lusso nel Giappone del periodo Edo. Una lettura storiografica." Quaderni Storici, vol. 42, no. 125 (2), 2007, pp. 591-621. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779598
- Riello Giorgio and Roy Tirthankar (2009), Introduction: the World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850, in Riello, G., & Roy, T. (Eds.), How India Clothed the World: The World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850: Brill. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1163/j.ctv2gjwskd
- Goody, J. (1996). Cap. 4, The growth of Indian commerce and industry. In The East in the West (pp. 113-137). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/east-in-the-west/D045038BC3C91471FFBD97FD20C5AC98
- Roy, Tirthankar. (2020). Cap. 2, Transition to Colonialism 1707-1857 in The Economic History of India, 1857-2010 (pp.17-65): Oxford University Press. https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190128296.001.0001/oso-9780190128296-chapter-2
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 3 Out of the Shadows. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.10
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 8 The Toxic Exchange. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.15
Possible additional elective readings will be indicated on the MyAriel website.
Non attending students (1 and 2):
1. three texts (9 CFU) or two 2 texts (6CFU) chosen from the following list:
- Silvia A. Conca Messina, Profitti del potere. Stato ed economia nell'Europa moderna, Laterza 2016
-. Findley R., O'Rourke K., Potere e ricchezza. Una storia economica del mondo (a cura di G. Conti, M.C. Schisani), Utet Università, 2016, chapters 1, 2, 3 e 4 (pp. 81-262 eand357-487)
-. Osterhammel, Jürgen, Storia della Cina moderna: secc. 18-20, Einaudi, 1992, (up to p. 228 - chapter Nine included).
2. together with 2 articles/chapters (both for 9CFU and 6CFU) chosen from the following list (all available online, via Minerva Exlibris or Jstor Unimi):
-. Beverly Lemire, and Genovese Maddalena. "Plasmare la domanda, creare la moda: l'Asia, l'Europa e il commercio dei cotoni indiani (XIV-XIX secc.)." Quaderni Storici 41, no. 122 (2) (2006): 481-507. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779548.
- Ciriacono, Salvatore (2007). "Scambi commerciali e produzione di beni di lusso nel Giappone del periodo Edo. Una lettura storiografica." Quaderni Storici, vol. 42, no. 125 (2), 2007, pp. 591-621. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43779598
- Riello Giorgio and Roy Tirthankar (2009), Introduction: the World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850, in Riello, G., & Roy, T. (Eds.), How India Clothed the World: The World of South Asian Textiles, 1500-1850: Brill. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1163/j.ctv2gjwskd
- Goody, J. (1996). Cap. 4, The growth of Indian commerce and industry. In The East in the West (pp. 113-137). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/east-in-the-west/D045038BC3C91471FFBD97FD20C5AC98
- Roy, Tirthankar. (2020). Cap. 2, Transition to Colonialism 1707-1857 in The Economic History of India, 1857-2010 (pp.17-65): Oxford University Press. https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190128296.001.0001/oso-9780190128296-chapter-2
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 3 Out of the Shadows. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.10
- Robins, Nick (2012). Cap. 8 The Toxic Exchange. In The Corporation That Changed the World: How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational (pp. 41-60): Pluto Press. https://doi-org.pros1.lib.unimi.it/10.2307/j.ctt183pcr6.15
Possible additional elective readings will be indicated on the MyAriel website of the course.
Erasmus students who wish to take the exam in English are invited to email the teacher well in advance before the scheduled exam session.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Final oral examination.
The teacher will evaluate: the clarity of presentation; argumentative ability; properness of terminology; completeness; correct space-time orientation; the ability to link facts and phenomena.
The teacher will evaluate: the clarity of presentation; argumentative ability; properness of terminology; completeness; correct space-time orientation; the ability to link facts and phenomena.
SECS-P/12 - ECONOMIC HISTORY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Conca Silvia Antonia
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Please schedule an appointment via email
Please, contact via e-mail the teacher to schedule an appointment