Trade, Labour and Consumption ca. 1600-1850

The course will concentrate on certain aspects of increased internationalization and the development of a market-oriented economy in the period ca. 1600-1850. Important elements will be how these changes influenced daily life, both in the fields of work, consumption and culture. More people were involved in production for a market. The flow of new products changed the patterns of consumption in Europe. Products initially regarded as luxury items became household products for large parts of the population: Tobacco, coffee, sugar, cotton fabrics etc. In this way larger groups were included in the globalized economy. The increased consumption was connected to increased purchasing power among common people, a result of increased home production or participation in waged labor in different ways ('the industrious revolution'). How these changes manifested themselves in everyday life will be an important theme. Changing and increasing consumption also led to cultural changes, for instance in the visualization of status through clothes, housing and other artifacts. The course The course will explore how these changes occurred, in different ways for the farmer population and the urban population, merchants and workers, male and female. The course will integrate Norwegian conditions in the general discussions. The course will also integrate historical sources that can document and exemplify the developments.

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome according to the course curriculum, defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The candidate is expected to

• have a have a thorough understanding of the different aspects of the growing internationalization and growth of a market economy in the period ca. 1600-1850
• have knowledge about important source material to understand the thematical relevant historical processes in the period

Skills

The candidate is expected to

• be able to use the source material to emphasize parts of the overmentioned processes

Lectures and groupwork with historical sources.