Customer Reviews

The Economy of Europe in an Age of Crisis, 1600-1750

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Considered a "classic" by professional historians and much loved by those of us who read history for fun. I first read this book in the mid 70's and I've re-read it more than 10 times since. De Vries masterfully presents the "big picture" of the growth of markets and colonialism, and weaves a tapestry of anecdotes and telling details that show how the big picture affected the lives of ordinary citizens who watched the world around them change in profound ways. If you enjoy economic history you will love this book. If you're new to economic history this would be a good book to experiment with, since DeVries writes intelligently and clearly.

This is a smart, sophisticated book about the European economy in the 1600s. De Vries seems to know everything there is to know about the subject: he writes lucidly about subjects ranging from colonial trade and commercial paper to feudal land law and rural industry. That said, the mass of details tends to overwhelm the central themes (whatever they are), and the narrative jumps from country to country, sector to sector, and decade to decade. The result is occasional confusion for the non-specialist reader who only wants the "big picture." Nevertheless, highly recommended.