The Commercialization of British Society: 1500–1750

Author: Zhang Weiliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: 1500-1750 was the pre-industrial period in British social development. During this time, British society completed its transition from a commercial society to an industrial society, first sounding the world's industrialization horn and becoming the "world's factory." The author of this book presents a historical panorama of British society's journey from commercialization to industrialization by describing and analyzing specific manifestations of commercialization during this period, such as improvements in the transportation network, adjustments in market structures, expansion of overseas markets, development of the land market, specialization of the agricultural economy, commercialization of rural industries, emergence of new cities, strengthening of mercantilist policies, growth of merchant wealth, and accelerated capital accumulation. The British commercialization path from 1500-1750 provides a lesson for developing countries, especially those in transition like China, to achieve economic modernization.