Merchants Revisited: Long-Distance Traders and the World they Made

When faced with Esther Sahle's, Edmond Smith's, and Dane A. Morrison's recent books on English American merchants, their activities, communities, a reader any level of exposure to the field early modern republic business history might legitimately ask, do we really need more? Historians have so completely associated economic activity merchant that many deemed period an era “merchant capitalism.” The is full excellent studies one rightfully ask whether historians such as Jacob Price ( Capital Credit in British Overseas Trade [1980]), David Hancock Oceans Wine [2009]), Cathy Matson Merchants Empire [1998]), Francesca Trivellato Familiarity Strangers among others, not plumbed depths subject. Scholars Black Atlantic also increasingly questioned legitimacy projects continue render violence slavery ancillary discussions practice. To some extent, genuine historical engagement merchants must reproduce views colonizers enslavers make people whom it legible audiences. This reproduction does damage illuminates, engage this critique directly maintain projects. In crowded foundations are seriously challenged by emergent strain discipline, worth skeptically asking what three additional can add.