Capitalist miners in feudal Europe: A commentary on Marxist agrarian history
Jeannette Graulau
Abstract Marxist agrarian history conceives of medieval mining as a pre‐capitalist and backward economy isolated from all forms capitalist change. Mining says otherwise. Evidence confirms that labour enjoyed the conditions for an early emancipation serfdom, rooted in ascent European silver‐based monetary eleventh century onwards. Feudal lords were caught between Scylla Charybdis, vulnerable to rise free miners demanded capital outlays. Drawing upon case study feudal principality Trent, article briefly sketches gave them decisive advantages over lords. The summarizes general arguments lines inquiry opening field extractive economies.
Journal of Agrarian Change