The Donkey and the Boat: Reinterpreting the Mediterranean Economy, 950-1180

Chris Wickham provides a new account of the Mediterranean economy in the 10th to 12th centuries, challenging the existing understanding and forcing a rethinking of the underlying logic of medieval economic systems. The book offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of the regions, focusing on Egypt, Tunisia, Sicily, the Byzantine empire, Islamic Spain, and Portugal, and providing the first detailed account of the changing economies of each.

Format: Hardback
Length: 848 pages
Publication date: 13 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

A New Perspective on the Mediterranean Economy in the 10th to 12th Centuries

In his groundbreaking work, "Mediterranean Economy in the 10th to 12th Centuries," Chris Wickham challenges our understanding of medieval economic systems by presenting a fresh account of the Mediterranean economy during this period. Wickham's approach is unique as he re-examines both documentary and archaeological sources to provide a comprehensive and detailed account of individual economies and their relationships with each other.

The existing syntheses on the Mediterranean economy, which are between 50 and 150 years old, are outdated and based on limited data sets. Moreover, these syntheses were written before the advent of usable archaeology, which has significantly enriched our understanding of the period. Wickham argues that these syntheses must be properly rethought and revised.

"Mediterranean Economy in the 10th to 12th Centuries" is the first book to offer a fully detailed comparative account of the regions of the Mediterranean during this period. The book focuses on Egypt, Tunisia, Sicily, the Byzantine empire, Islamic Spain and Portugal, and north-central Italy. It provides the first comprehensive account of the changing economies of each region, with only Byzantium having a good prior synthesis.

Wickham's book aims to force readers to rethink the underlying logic of medieval economic systems. By examining the economic activities and relationships of different regions, he challenges our assumptions about how economies functioned in the medieval Mediterranean. The book also offers a rethinking of how we should understand the fundamental principles of the medieval economy in general.

Through his meticulous research and analysis, Chris Wickham has provided a valuable contribution to the field of medieval economic studies. "Mediterranean Economy in the 10th to 12th Centuries" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the economic complexities of the medieval Mediterranean world.

Weight: 1430g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 56 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198856481