Crisis of Feudalism

Guy Bois' study of late medieval Normandy is a work of many dimensions.

G. Bois (Author)

9780521274906, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 12 February 2009

472 pages
21.6 x 14 x 0.2 cm, 0.02 kg

Guy Bois' study of late medieval Normandy is a work of many dimensions. It should be of particular interest to English readers because of the close historical associations of England with Normandy and because of the natural resemblances between these two countries, separated only by the English Channel. This study does not, however, cover the period of close political association but that of invasion and warfare, of destruction and pillage. Although Guy Bois' book follows through the movements of population, prices, rents and wages over two and a half centuries, it does not consist simply of the delineation of trends. The realities of the land and its occupants are fitted into this boarder scheme, their economic and social activities are described as well as the impact on them of the military campaigns. All this is based on a meticulous analysis of every type of documentation available, ranging from tax returns to ecclesiastical surveys, from chronicles to rentals.

Part I. The Major Economic and Demographic Indices: 1. Demography: the sources
2. The population: changes in numbers
3. Prices
4. Wages
5. The gross product
6. Part II. The Economic Subjects: Peasants and Lords: 6. The peasants: the occupation of the land and the holdings
7. Peasant holdings
8. The lords: the revenue from seigneurial dues
9. The demesnes
Part III. The Stages of the Crisis: 10. From growth to depression
11. The first breaks: c. 1337–1410
13. The disasters: c. 1410–1450
14. The economic and demographic renaissance: c. 1450–1500
15. The new deadlock in growth: c. 1500–1550
General conclusion
Appendices
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History [HB]