These conference proceedings from the XVth World Economic History Congress discuss the economic relationship between the Atlantic World and the North Sea/Baltic region in the pre-industrial period. Yet, the relationship is not seen only in terms of commodity and capital flows. Different patterns of trade and political economies of early modern states come into focus, too. The individual contributions pay attention to institutional conditions of trade, as well as cross-cultural entrepreneurship. The role of Atlantic colonial commodities for the transformation of the Baltic and North Sea trades is examined. Economic policies are stressed as crucial for a more thorough understanding of such phenomena as the shift of Scotland's trade from the east to the west, and for the success of Danish and Swedish shipping businesses during the period. In this way the editors hope that the volume will act as a trigger for further studies on a topic that has been hitherto neglected vis-�-vis an ever-growing body of literature on the early modern Atlantic economies: An impartial and comprehensive understanding of the Atlantic can only be achieved by factoring the Baltic into the picture.

"The Baltic Sea Region, at the crossroads between East and West, North and South, has long been marked by cultural, ethnical and ideological borders. Overcoming a history of conflict and separation, since the end of the Cold War the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea established widely valued formats of regional cooperation based on shared challenges and opportunities. In comparison with larger regions, however, the Baltic Sea Area is still a blank spot on the global map. This volume's intention is to fill this spot with colour and facts. It provides students, young researchers and other interested parties with basic knowledge of the region. The volume offers a comprehensive introduction into its history, politics, economy and culture, taking into account the various countries' commonalities and differences. By introducing concepts of regionalism and region-building, as well as analysing the structures of regional cooperation the authors and editors demonstrate the Baltic Sea Area's model function as a European macro-region."--

A fresh assessment of seaborne activity around England in the later middle ages, offering a fresh perspective on its rich maritime heritage. England's relationship with the sea in the later Middle Ages has been unjustly neglected, a gap which this volume seeks to fill. The physical fact of the kingdom's insularity made the seas around England fundamentally important toits development within the British Isles and in relation to mainland Europe. At times they acted as barriers; but they also, and more often, served as highways of exchange, transport and communication, and it is this aspect whichthe essays collected here emphasise. Mindful that the exploitation of the sea required specialist technology and personnel, and that England's maritime frontiers raised serious issues of jurisdiction, security, and internationaldiplomacy, the chapters explore several key roles performed by the sea during the period c.1200-c.1500. Foremost among them is war: the infrastructure, logistics, politics, and personnel of English seaborne expeditions are assessed, most notably for the period of the Hundred Years War. What emerges from this is a demonstration of the sophisticated, but not infallible, methods of raising and using ships, men and material for war in a period before England possessed a permanent navy. The second major facet of England's relationship with the sea was the generation of wealth: this is addressed in its own right and as an intrinsic aspect of warfare and piracy. RICHARD GORSKIis Philip Nicholas Memorial Lecturer in Maritime History at the University of Hull. Contributors: Richard Gorski, Richard W. Unger, Susan Rose, Craig Lambert, David Simpkin, Tony K. Moore, Marcus Pitcaithly, Tim Bowly, Ian Friel

Daily life in the early modern North Sea region was largely subject to international forces such as wars, trade and changing religion. Consequently, many people from the North Sea region emigrated to the Dutch Republic. From 1550 to 1800 this small confederation of provinces attracted hundreds of thousands of foreigners to work in its industries, in its households and on board of its ships. This book is about the impact of the Dutch Republic on the geographical mobility of the people in the surrounding countries. Jelle van Lottum works at the Cambridge Group of Population and Social Structure of the University of Cambridge (Geography Department) (UK).

This is the first study to analyse the relationship between England and Sweden across the entire seventeenth century. It emphasises the importance of commerce and diplomacy working in tandem. The book contains five chapters arranged chronologically, all based on original and innovative archival research, and traces the economic aspects of the relationship in both a qualitative and quantitative context. It draws upon a number of unique incidents to detail the variety and extent of commercial and diplomatic connections that became of primary importance for the welfare and success of both nations over the century.

The Companion to the Hanseatic League discusses the importance of the Hanseatic League for the social and economic history of pre-modern northern Europe. Established already as early as the twelfth century, the towns that formed the Hanseatic League created an important network of commerce throughout the Baltic and North Sea area. From Russia in the east, to England and France in the west, the cities of the Hanseatic League created a vast northern maritime trade network. The aim of this volume is to present a “state” of the field English-language volume by some of the most respected Hanse scholars. Contributors are Mike Burkhardt, Ulf Christian Ewert, Rolf Hammel-Kiesow, Donald J. Harreld, Carsten Jahnke, Michael North, Jürgen Sarnowsky and Stephan Selzer.