Wealth of England: The medieval wool trade and its political importance 1100-1600

The wool trade was a crucial part of the British economy during the medieval period, and Susan Rose's book "The Wealth of England" explores how it became so important. It looks at the lives of prominent wool-men, such as the Stonors, Nicholas Brembre, and Richard (Dick) Whittington, and how their wealth transformed the appearance of the trade's leading centers. The export of wool also gave England links with Italian trading cities, and the Staple at Calais played a significant role in the trade.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 238 pages
\n Publication date: 21 February 2018
\n Publisher: Oxbow Books
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The wool trade played a paramount role in the British economy during the medieval era, with its influence extending even to the seat of the speaker of the House of Lords, which is adorned with a woolsack. In her comprehensive work, The Wealth of England, Susan Rose intricately weaves together the social, economic, and political factors that contributed to the growth and significance of the wool trade. The author delves into the lives of prominent wool-men, including gentry like the Stonors in the Chilterns, astute middlemen like Nicholas Brembre and Richard (Dick) Whittington, and individuals who amassed wealth and influence, such as William de la Pole of Hull. Through meticulous examination, Rose explores how the wealth generated by these and other wool-men reshaped the architectural landscape of the trade's key centers, adorned with magnificent churches and other structures. Moreover, the export of wool established connections between England and Italian trading cities, coinciding with the transformative era of the Renaissance that shaped cultural life. The intricate workings of the trade are further elucidated, with the Staple at Calais taking center stage, leading to a discussion on how the policies of English kings, particularly in the fourteenth century, were profoundly influenced by trade in this single commodity. Regarded as a groundbreaking work, The Wealth of England stands as the sole book that comprehensively examines the wool trade's impact on English history, making its influence evident throughout the ages.

\n Weight: 726g\n
Dimension: 180 x 248 x 23 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781785707360\n \n