Emily B. (LibraryEm42) reviewed Before European Hegemony: The World System A.D. 1250-1350 on + 26 more book reviews
This is a fascinating examination of the medieval world economy (in the Eastern Hemisphere), spanning Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and Asia. Abu-Lughod breaks the system down into three interlocking "spheres of influence": Europe; between the Middle East and India; and between China and India. (Imagine a Venn diagram with three circles overlaid on the map.) It can get a bit dense and dry if you aren't into the topic, but if you are, it's great.
Some of Abu-Lughod's points go against what my high school textbook claimed (though that's no surprise, given how long it takes textbooks to catch up with historical research): especially interesting was her argument, supported by primary documents, that Europeans were not actually miles ahead of everyone in accounting techniques or in forming capital-pooling proto-corporations, so that did not provide the great advantage my textbook claimed.
This book was published about 20 years ago, and I would love to read an updated version which included any new discoveries and refinements made since then.
Some of Abu-Lughod's points go against what my high school textbook claimed (though that's no surprise, given how long it takes textbooks to catch up with historical research): especially interesting was her argument, supported by primary documents, that Europeans were not actually miles ahead of everyone in accounting techniques or in forming capital-pooling proto-corporations, so that did not provide the great advantage my textbook claimed.
This book was published about 20 years ago, and I would love to read an updated version which included any new discoveries and refinements made since then.
