Explores the variety of legal and regulatory regimes that existed in Western Europe to control labour and how workers experienced those controls. Many economic historians have assumed that labour in Western Europe was 'free' after the end of serfdom in the fifteenth century. These assumptions are increasingly being questioned and labour laws have been identified as creating significant restrictions on workers' freedom. This collection is the first book to look at labour laws across Western Europe from a longer-term perspective. It is interdisciplinary in nature bringing together studies in social, political, economic and legal history. Elements of labour legislation appeared before the Black Death, but were strengthened afterwards particularly in places and periods where labour became scarce. The collection focuses on the rural economy in the late medieval and early modern period. It provides a series of studies which introduce a range of approaches to labour regulation and the very idea of labour across Europe. Uniquely, the collection offers observations on the impact of labour laws on everyday social relations. Attempts to regulate work and labour varied widely: in places they amounted to wishful thinking on the part of the regional authorities, whereas elsewhere they could impose severe limitations on individual freedoms. Contributors: Davide Cristoferi, Theresa Johnsson, Thijs Lambrecht, Charmian Mansell, Francine Michaud, Hanne Osthus, Raffaella Sarti, Carolina Uppenberg and Jane Whittle.

About the Author
JANE WHITTLE is Professor of Economic and Social History at the University of Exeter. THIJS LAMBRECHT is Lecturer in Rural History at the University of Ghent.

Reviews
Makes clear that a better understanding of the developing ideas and practices in Europe before the sixteenth century will also lead to a better understanding of the slave trade. It invites new questions about self-representations of the organization of labor within Europe over a longer period. This makes it an important book. Original Dutch: Het maakt duidelijk dat een beter begrip van de zich ontwikkelende ideeen en praktijken in Europa voor de zestiende eeuw ook tot meer inzicht zal leiden in de door slavenhandel. Het nodigt ook uit tot het stellen van nieuwe vragen over zelfrepresentaties van de organisatie van arbeid binnen Europa over een langere periode. Daarmee is het een belangrijk boek. * TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR GESCHIEDENIS *



Book Information
ISBN 9781783277681
Author Jane Whittle
Format Paperback
Page Count 266
Imprint The Boydell Press
Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd