General Economic History: Western Europe

Graduate / Professional

This course examines the economic development of Western Europe from the medieval period to modern times, with particular emphasis on institutional changes, technological progress, and structural transformation. The course explores major historical periods including the Commercial Revolution, the Black Death, and the Industrial Revolution while analyzing their causes and consequences. Students will engage with comparative perspectives that place Western European development in global context, particularly in relation to China, India, and Japan. The course covers key themes including demographic transitions, the evolution of markets and trade, state formation, financial innovations, labor institutions, human capital development, and historical patterns of inequality. Each week introduces a different empirical methodology commonly used in economic history research, showing how these approaches can be applied to historical questions using original data and case studies. Through analysis of these diverse topics and methods, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of how historical processes shaped modern economic growth and contemporary economic structures. Prerequisites: simultaneous enrollment in or successful completion of ECON 5500 and ECON 5510 ; permission of the instructor. F 2pm-5pm