Land and Credit: Mortgages in the Medieval and Early Modern European Countryside

This book explores the use of mortgages in the European countryside between the 13th and 18th centuries, examining how they transformed the agrarian economy and allowed peasants to access funds for investment. It discusses the positive and negative aspects of mortgages and the factors that determined their prevalence and risk.

Format: Hardback
Length: 339 pages
Publication date: 08 March 2018
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive volume delves into the historical significance of mortgages in the European countryside spanning from the thirteenth to eighteenth centuries. A mortgage facilitated the securing of loans by leveraging land or other properties, and it has been credited with playing a pivotal role in the transformative process that paved the way for modern economic growth. Historians have offered diverse perspectives on mortgages, with some viewing them positively for providing opportunities for agricultural investment while others emphasizing the risks associated with property loss. Through a series of case studies presented in this volume, the diverse forms that mortgages took are explored, highlighting the intricate balance between the interests of borrowers seeking funding and lenders seeking security. It is argued that the character of mortgage law and the nature of land rights in specific places and periods significantly influenced the prevalence and usage of mortgages. Over time, advancements in these factors facilitated an increase in the accessibility and risk-reduction of mortgages for peasants. This volume holds appeal to scholars and researchers with interests in financial history, rural credit and debt, and the economic history of agrarian communities.

Weight: 606g
Dimension: 158 x 219 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783319662084
Edition number: 1st ed. 2018