Having emerged in the context of the historiographical and cultural changes promoted by the histoire philosophique, histories of trade constituted a literary genre that marked a discontinuity with erudition and antiquarianism, and interacted critically with universal history. By comparing and linking the histories of individual peoples within a common historical process, this genre enriched the reflection on civilisation that emerged during the long eighteenth century. Those who looked to the past wanted to understand the political constitutions and manners most appropriate to commerce, as well as to grasp the recurring mechanisms underlying economic development. In this sense, histories of trade constituted a peculiar declination of eighteenth-century political economy, and thus became an invaluable analytical and practical tool for a galaxy of academic scholars, journalists, lawyers, administrators, diplomats and government ministers whose ambition was to reform the political, social and economic structure of their nations. Moreover, thanks to these investigations, a lucid awareness of historical temporality and, more particularly, of the irrepressible precariousness of economic hegemonies, developed. However, as a field of tension in which multiple and even divergent intellectual sensibilities met, this literary genre also found space for critical assessments that focused on the ambivalence and dangers of commercial civilisation.

Histories of Trade: Civilisation and Political Economy in the Long Eighteenth Century

Aris Della Fontana
2021

Abstract

Having emerged in the context of the historiographical and cultural changes promoted by the histoire philosophique, histories of trade constituted a literary genre that marked a discontinuity with erudition and antiquarianism, and interacted critically with universal history. By comparing and linking the histories of individual peoples within a common historical process, this genre enriched the reflection on civilisation that emerged during the long eighteenth century. Those who looked to the past wanted to understand the political constitutions and manners most appropriate to commerce, as well as to grasp the recurring mechanisms underlying economic development. In this sense, histories of trade constituted a peculiar declination of eighteenth-century political economy, and thus became an invaluable analytical and practical tool for a galaxy of academic scholars, journalists, lawyers, administrators, diplomats and government ministers whose ambition was to reform the political, social and economic structure of their nations. Moreover, thanks to these investigations, a lucid awareness of historical temporality and, more particularly, of the irrepressible precariousness of economic hegemonies, developed. However, as a field of tension in which multiple and even divergent intellectual sensibilities met, this literary genre also found space for critical assessments that focused on the ambivalence and dangers of commercial civilisation.
2021
Settore M-STO/02 - Storia Moderna
Histories of Trade as Histories of Civilisation
Palgrave Macmillan
Classical Antiquity, Middle Ages, Early Modern, Historiography, Production of wealth, Philosophy of history, Antiquarianism, Political institutions, Economic development, New World, Commercial society, Colonial empires, Men of letters
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11384/108325
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