The Capital and the Colonies
London and the Atlantic Economy 1660–1700

This book describes how the mercantile system was made to work as London established itself as the capital of the Atlantic empire.

Nuala Zahedieh (Author)

9781107406353, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 July 2012

348 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.47 kg

"...Zahedieh's book points to the urgent need for further comparative studies on the Atlantic world from other vantage points than the port of London. For such studies, The Capital and the Colonies offers and excellent model." -Karel Davids, Canadian Journal of History

Between 1660 and 1700, London established itself as the capital and commercial hub of a thriving Atlantic empire, accounting for three quarters of the nation's colonial trade, and playing a vital coordinating role in an increasingly coherent Atlantic system. Nuala Zahedieh's unique study provides the first detailed picture of how that mercantile system was made to work. By identifying the leading colonial merchants, she shows through their collective experiences how London developed the capabilities to compete with its continental rivals and ensure compliance with the Navigation Acts. Zahedieh shows that in making mercantilism work, Londoners helped to create the conditions which underpinned the long period of structural change and economic growth which culminated in the Industrial Revolution.

List of illustrations
List of tables
List of figures
List of maps
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
Introduction
1. London and the Atlantic economy
2. Merchants
3. Shipping
4. Imports
5. Exports
6. Conclusion
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]