A Cultural History of Shopping was a Library Journal Best in Reference selection for 2022.
Throughout Europe, the collapse of Roman authority from the 5th century fractured existing networks of commerce and trade including shopping.
The infrastructure of trade was slowly rebuilt over the centuries that followed with the growth of beach markets, emporia, seasonal fairs and periodic markets until, in the late Middle Ages, the permanent shop re-emerged as an established part of market spaces, both in towns and larger urban centers.
Medieval society was a 'display culture' and by the 14th century there was a marked increase in the consumption of manufactures and imported goods among the lower classes as well as the elite. This volume surveys our understanding of medieval retail markets, shops and shopping from a range of perspectives - spatial, material culture, literary, archaeological and economic.
A Cultural History of Shopping in the Middle Ages presents an overview
of the period with themes addressing practices and processes; spaces and
places; shoppers and identities; luxury and everyday; home and family;
visual and literary representations; reputation, trust and credit; and
governance, regulation and the state.
List of Illustrations Notes on Contributors Series Preface, Jon Stobart Introduction, James Davis and Richard Britnell 1. Practices and Processes, James Davis 2. Spaces and Places, Mark Page 3. Shoppers and Identities, Kate Kelsey Staples 4. Luxury and Everyday, Ben Jervis 5. Home and Family, James Davis 6. Visual and Literary Representations, Craig E. Bertolet 7. Reputation, Trust and Credit, Catherine Casson 8. Governance, Regulation and the State, Jessica Dijkman Bibliography Index
James Davis is Reader in History, Queen's University Belfast, UK.
