ECONOMIC HISTORY, 15th – 19th CENTURY

The course offers a short introduction to economic history from the dawn of modern times to the late 19^th century. As such, it surveys the basis characteristics and evolutionary stages of the global economy from the age of exploration and discovery, placing relatively more emphasis on European developments. At the same time, the course explores more specific topics such as the evolution or money and credit, the implications of international trade and the broader role of institutions and culture in accounting for the relative economic performance in the long run.

The course is organised thematically. Early thematic units emphasise basic concepts and theoretical tools (the malthusian model, diminishing returns, theories of economic growth, etc), while offering an opportunity to take a topical digression into the history of pandemics. Subsequent units cover the outset of medieval economies in Europe, the Arab world and China, the period of European expansion, 1500-1700, the Industrial Revolution and its spread to beyond Britain.

The course aims at familiarizing students with basic economic concepts as well as certain fundamental questions that are at the forefront of research in economic history; what is more, the course hopes to highlight the significance of economic parameters in interpreting historical phenomena.

Upon successful completion of the course, students shall be able to:

• outline the periods and key turning points in modern economic history;
• compare the performance of individual geographical areas;
• define economic development as well as analyze and prioritize its key determinants;
• discuss and contrast different interpretations of the Great Divergence as well as th Industrial Revolution;
• use and interpret tables and charts containing historical economic data.

The syllabus is organised in seven subject units or topics. Each topic is covered during one or more lectures during the course. Details on the content of each unit, along with the relevant literature are made available on the course e-class during the term. The seven basic topics are the following:

Α. Introduction: GDP and welfare measurement, 15th-19th century

B. Growth: a theoretical model of economic growth

C. Digression: Pandemics

D. Starting-point: China, the Arab world and European in the Middle Ages

Ε. Expansino: 1500-1700

F. Revolution: the Industrial Revolution and its impact

G. Spread: industrial revolutions elsewhere in the world

Landes, David S. (2005), The wealth and poverty of nations: why some are so rich and some are so poor. Athens: Livanis Publishing House. [Greek translation of 1998 English edition]

Persson, Karl Gunnar & Sharp, Paul (2018), An economic history of Europe: knowledge, institutions and growth, 600 to the present. Athens: Diplographia Publications. [Greek translation of 2015 English second edition]

Κοcka, Jürgen (2021), Geschichte des Kapitalismus. Heraklio: Crete University Press [Greek translation of 2014 German edition].

Heilbroner, Robert L. & Mildberg, William (2010), The making of economic society. Athens: Kritiki Publications. [Greek translation of 2008 English edition]

Projector used to project tables, charts, maps and slides during classes. Teaching is supported via the e-class platform to manage announcements, share documents, assign and follow up on assignments and communicate with students.

Final written exams in Greek with an (optional) mid-term exam. Details are available in the file "Examination and assessment criteria" (in Greek), which is available on the course e-class.