A Study Of The Commerce And Merchants Of England:1500-1650

The subject of this dissertation studies the commerce and merchants of England in 1500--1650. In England, capitalistic mode of production underwent several centuries until it was completely established. The years from 1500--i 650(Tudor and early Stuart) were the earlier stage of it. During this period, handcraft workshop and the system of tenant farm appeared, which marked that self-sufficient natural economy went to pieces and the market economy came into being. In the respect of politic, England developed into a national monarchy through 揋overnment Revolution?of 1 530s. As a result of the government exercising the policy of mercantilism, the trade and commerce prospered day by day. In the sphere of world, it was the age that the western countries were engaged in navigation, discovery, trade and exploration in 16th and 17th centuries. Colonization and expansion of trade became the tide of times, World market began to form. The symptom of world economy integration appeared. From the later part of 1 6th century, England gained the sea power and traded with Asia, Africa and America, which promoted the social and economic change. England became the central country of 揷apitalist world economy? English merchant抯 influence and power strengthened in this course. They became important social force. They were backbone of rising capitalism class and together with bourgeoisified gentry made ready for overthrowing the ruling of feudal aristocrat. There are three parts in this paper. The first part deals with the breakthrough from the agriculture economy to commodity economy in transition. A nationwide commercial net with London as the core was established on the basis of the developing of market economy. The second part explores the development of foreign trade and oversea expansion from 1500 to 1650. Due to the support of government抯 mercantile policy, primitive accumulation of capital was accelerated by trade and plundering. It promoted the transformation from feudalism to capitalism and made preparation for wresting commerce hegemony from Dutch. In studying the merchant of this period, the third part discusses merchant抯 capital vesting, merchant抯 political power and status and at last gave a conclusion of the nature of merchant class tentatively...