277:) of Italian money-changers effected compensatory payments for goods, established future payments on credit, made loans to princes and lords, and settled bills of exchange (which were generally worded to expire at one of the Champagne fairs). Even after trade routes had shifted away from the north-south axis that depended on the Champagne commodities fairs, the fairs continued to function as an international clearing house for paper debts and credits, as they had built up a system of
17:
104:
309:. Sometime, professional freight-handlers made the trek while under contract to merchants. P. Huvelin documented the existence, by the second half of the thirteenth century, of a faster courier service that facilitated the transfer of letters and market information between north and south for the particular advantage of the
378:
following the feudal disorders of the tenth century. The predominance of the
Champagne fairs over those of other cities has been attributed to the personal role of the Counts in guaranteeing the security and property rights of merchants and trading organisations attending the fairs, and in ensuring
90:
in the lead, dominating the commercial and banking relations operating at the frontier region between the north and the
Mediterranean. The Champagne fairs were one of the earliest manifestations of a linked European economy, a characteristic of the
209:
In actual practice, arrivals and departures were more flexible and efficient, relying on flexibly formed and dissolved partnerships, which freed the "silent" partners from actually undertaking the arduous journey on each occasion, delegated agents
392:
negotiated a treaty in which the kings of France pledged themselves to take under royal protection all merchants passing through royal territory on their way to and from the
Champagne fairs. Eventually even the king became involved; in 1209
436:
also saw the decline as due to the increasing sophistication of communications and distance credit, changing the medieval merchant from a person engaged in constant arduous travel to one who mostly controlled his affairs by correspondence.
387:
has written "the success of the
Champagne fairs can be attributed solely to this intelligent policy of applying public order to business." The Counts' concern for protection of this profitable trade extended beyond their borders:
383:. The Counts provided the fairs with a police force, the "Guards of the Fair", who heard complaints and enforced contracts, excluding defaulters from future participation; weights and measures were strictly regulated. Historian
51:
in the 12th and 13th centuries, originating in local agricultural and stock fairs. Each fair lasted about 2 to 3 weeks. The
Champagne fairs, sited on ancient land routes and largely self-regulated through the development of the
615:"The Fairs of Champagne and Their Towns" (Oxford University Press US) 1991, pp. 55ff: "certainly there were many other modest bourgs, scattered throughout France, whose characteristics were equally propitious for development".
111:
The towns in which the six fairs of the annual circuit were held had some features in common, but none that would have inexorably drawn the commerce of the fairs: each was situated at an intersection or former way-station of
327:, as well as the mercantile houses. R. D. Face noted that in early February, 1290, it took a courier no more than twenty days to make the journey from Lagny to Florence. Alternatively, north Italian goods were shipped to
408:
in 1284. In 1285 Champagne became an integral part of France. "When the special motivation was removed in 1285", Janet Abu-Lughod observes, "the
Champagne fairs lost their edge." The effect of the
650:
Paul R. Milgrom, Douglass C. North and Barry R. Weingast, "The role of institutions in the revival of trade: the law merchant, private judges and the
Champagne fairs", in Kaushik Basu, ed.
404:
Traditional historians have dated the decline of the
Champagne fairs to the subordination of Champagne to the Royal Domain brought about by the marriage alliance of
198:
of eight days during which merchants set up, followed by the days allotted for the cloth fair, the days of the leather fair, and the days for the sale of
624:
R. D. Face, "Techniques of
Business in the Trade between the Fairs of Champagne and the South of Europe in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries",
602:"During the High Middle Ages, the fairs of Champagne were the main mart for international trade, and the hub of local and international commerce."
214:) who could receive payment and undertake contracts, and factors, integrated with communications and transportation, and the extensive use of
823:, "Civilization & Capitalism, 15–18th Centuries, Vol 1: The Structures of Everyday Life", p. 419, William Collins & Sons, London 1981
492:
359:
rebuilding their houses in the
Northern style. The phrase "not to know your Champagne fairs" meant not knowing what everyone else did.
533:.2 (1930:495–533); Reynolds, "Genoese trade in the late twelfth century, particularly in cloth from the fairs of Champagne",
285:
and the requirements of scrupulously maintaining a "good name", prior to the third-party enforcement of legal codes by the
883:
898:
847:
750:
697:
587:
563:
183:
893:
888:
401:
within France to merchants traveling to and from the Champagne fairs, increasing their international importance.
416:
took a toll also. Around the same time, a series of wars in Italy, most significantly the conflicts between the
158:
The series of six fairs, each lasting more than six weeks, were spaced through the year's calendar: the fair of
351:
The fairs were also important in the spread and exchange of cultural influences—the first appearance of
305:, a journey that took more than a month from Genoa to the fair cities, along one of the varied options of the
878:
374:, to extend the liberties and prerogatives of the towns, which were founded in the increased security of the
78:. At their height, in the late 12th and the 13th century, the fairs linked the cloth-producing cities of the
526:.3 (1929:495–533); Reynolds, "Merchants of Arras and the overland trade with Genoa in the twelfth century",
146:
was held just outside the precincts of the Count's castle there, and that at Lagny in the grounds of a
394:
389:
273:
and from Germany. Once the cloth sales had been concluded, the reckoning of credit at the tables (
150:. The self-interest and the political will of the Counts of Champagne was the over-riding factor.
417:
187:
270:
147:
440:
As the Champagne fairs dwindled to insignificance, their place was assumed by the fairs of
773:
692:, Vol 3: "The Perspective of the World", p. 111, William Collins & Sons, London 1984,
599:
420:, disrupted the overland trade routes that connected the Italian cities with France, and
8:
482:
405:
352:
190:(14 September); the "fair of St. Remi" or the "cold fair" of Troyes on the day following
133:
44:
363:
269:. Goods converged from Spain, travelling along the well-established pilgrim route from
191:
843:
746:
693:
583:
559:
453:
449:
311:
215:
92:
839:
820:
685:
433:
302:
159:
117:
59:
58:("merchant law"), became an important engine in the reviving economic history of
745:, translated by Caroline Higgit, New York and London, Holmes & Meier 1998,
409:
371:
306:
278:
54:
872:
832:
487:
328:
175:
137:
79:
413:
398:
286:
258:
163:
143:
16:
809:
Before the Industrial Revolution: European Society and Economy, 1000–1700
384:
380:
266:
203:
129:
519:
R. L. Reynolds, "The market for northern textiles in Genoa, 1179–1200",
379:
that contracts signed at the fairs would be honoured throughout Western
496:. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 828.
230:
113:
40:
375:
282:
48:
206:). In the last four-day period of the fairs, accounts were settled.
429:
367:
316:
554:
John H. Munro, "Medieval Woollens". In David T. Jenkins, editor,
336:
863:(London: Longmans, Green) 1914) "Fairs" pp. 65–67 and map p. 66.
445:
222:
171:
125:
103:
67:
63:
481:
457:
441:
425:
242:
238:
226:
179:
121:
83:
29:
Album historique, publié sous la direction de M. Ernest Lavisse
665:
Annales de Droit Commercial Français Étranger et International
421:
356:
340:
332:
324:
320:
250:
199:
87:
75:
62:, "veritable nerve centers" serving as a premier market for
461:
298:
262:
254:
246:
234:
167:
225:. Furs and skins traveled in both directions, from Spain,
613:
Before European Hegemony: The World System A.D. 1250–1350
245:
and other skins from the north. From the north also came
71:
743:
Gold and Spices: The Rise of Commerce in the Middle Ages
221:
The towns provided huge warehouses, still to be seen at
600:
https://mises.org/library/great-depression-14th-century
132:'s empire that developed into the central towns of the
301:, the caravans of pack mules made their way over the
510:, (Cambridge University Press) 1952, vol. ii, p. 230
194:(that is, on 2 November). Each fair began with the
186:(24 June); the fair of St. Ayoul of Provins on the
663:Huvelin, "Les couriers des foires de Champagne",
870:
690:Civilization & Capitalism, 15–18th Centuries
281:, regulated by private judges separate from the
292:
580:The English Fur Trade in the Later Middle Ages
178:; the "fair of St. John" or the "hot fair" of
265:, coinage and the new concepts of credit and
611:This point was made by Janet L. Abu-Lughod,
432:, diminishing the importance of the fairs.
182:on the first Tuesday after the fortnight of
582:, 2nd Edition, London Folio Society 2005.
43:which flourished in different towns of the
774:"The Great Depression of the 14th Century"
641:These aspects form the tenor of Face 1958.
428:merchants opened up direct sea trade with
355:in Italy was the result of merchants from
556:The Cambridge History of Western Textiles
444:, to which the Genoese ships sailed, and
771:
535:Journal of Economic and Business History
346:
102:
15:
574:
572:
521:Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire
479:
366:, virtually independent of his nominal
25:A fair in Champagne in the 13th century
871:
772:Rothbard, Murray (23 November 2009).
737:
735:
550:
548:
546:
31:(1898), Paris, Armand Colin & Cie
21:Une foire en Champagne au XIII siècle
727:Cambridge Economic History of Europe
569:
558:, Cambridge University Press, 2003,
508:Cambridge Economic History of Europe
229:, and North Africa in the south via
128:had been administrative centers in
13:
732:
543:
14:
910:
842:(ed), 1990, Collins & Brown,
667:(Paris) 1898, noted by Face 1958.
202:and other things sold by weight (
315:, the cloth-merchants' guild of
162:began on 2 January: the fair at
853:
826:
814:
801:
792:
765:
756:
720:
711:
702:
679:
670:
657:
644:
632:.3 (1958:427–38) p. 427 note 2.
153:
635:
618:
605:
593:
513:
500:
473:
362:It was in the interest of the
1:
652:Readings in Political Economy
506:M. M. Postan, E Miller eds.,
293:Reaching the Champagne fairs
98:
86:and exporting centers, with
7:
626:The Economic History Review
412:and population-diminishing
253:cloth. From the south came
116:and near a river, but only
10:
915:
884:Economic history of France
762:Janet L. Abu-Lughod p. 58.
166:on the Tuesday before mid-
899:Medieval economic history
480:Longnon, Auguste (1911).
467:
233:, and the highly prized
39:were an annual cycle of
811:(London, 1994), p. 202.
493:Encyclopædia Britannica
418:Guelphs and Ghibellines
188:Exaltation of the Cross
894:13th century in France
889:12th century in France
717:Braudel, Vol 3, p. 111
460:and, more locally, of
271:Santiago de Compostela
174:on the Tuesday before
108:
32:
861:A History of Commerce
708:Braudel, Vol 3, p. 66
347:Dominance and decline
331:then up or along the
148:Benedictine monastery
120:had a navigable one.
107:Map of France in 1154
106:
19:
879:Champagne (province)
778:Mises Daily Articles
170:; the "May fair" of
353:Gothic architecture
283:feudal social order
134:County of Champagne
49:Northeastern France
45:County of Champagne
837:The Medieval World
807:Carlo M. Cipolla,
578:Elspeth M. Veale,
364:Count of Champagne
261:and other spices,
216:credit instruments
109:
33:
798:Abu-Lughod p. 58.
780:. Mises Institute
540:.3 (1931:362–81).
483:"Champagne"
454:Frankfurt-am-Main
376:feudal settlement
82:with the Italian
906:
864:
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498:
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477:
319:, the cities of
312:Arte di Calimala
139:Brie Champenoise
93:High Middle Ages
27:), engraving in
914:
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904:
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840:Jacques Le Goff
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821:Fernand Braudel
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686:Fernand Braudel
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434:Fernand Braudel
406:Philip the Fair
395:Philip Augustus
349:
303:Mont Cenis Pass
295:
192:All Saint's Day
160:Lagny-sur-Marne
156:
118:Lagny-sur-Marne
101:
60:medieval Europe
37:Champagne fairs
12:
11:
5:
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764:
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719:
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678:
676:Face 1958:435.
669:
656:
643:
634:
628:, New Series,
617:
604:
592:
568:
542:
512:
499:
488:Chisholm, Hugh
471:
469:
466:
410:Little Ice Age
372:King of France
348:
345:
307:Via Francigena
294:
291:
279:commercial law
218:in the trade.
184:St. John's Day
155:
152:
142:; the fair at
100:
97:
55:Lex mercatoria
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
911:
900:
897:
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848:1-85585-081-8
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833:Aron Gurevich
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804:
795:
779:
775:
768:
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751:0-8419-1232-7
748:
744:
741:Jean Favier,
738:
736:
728:
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714:
705:
699:
698:0-00-216133-8
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588:0-900952-38-5
585:
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566:, pp. 231–36.
565:
564:0-521-34107-8
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329:Aigues-Mortes
326:
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308:
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300:
297:To cross the
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94:
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80:Low Countries
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65:
61:
57:
56:
50:
46:
42:
38:
30:
26:
22:
18:
860:
855:
836:
828:
816:
808:
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794:
782:. Retrieved
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758:
742:
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672:
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579:
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520:
515:
507:
502:
491:
475:
439:
414:black plague
403:
399:safe conduct
361:
350:
310:
296:
287:nation-state
274:
220:
211:
208:
195:
164:Bar-sur-Aube
157:
154:Organization
144:Bar-sur-Aube
138:
110:
53:
36:
34:
28:
24:
20:
859:Clive Day,
590:, pp. 65–66
528:Revue belge
385:Jean Favier
381:Christendom
267:bookkeeping
212:certi missi
204:avoirdupois
130:Charlemagne
114:Roman roads
41:trade fairs
873:Categories
654:2003:68ff.
450:Hansa town
390:Thibaut II
231:Marseilles
784:8 January
176:Ascension
99:The towns
850:; p. 265
729:ii, 230.
430:Flanders
426:Venetian
397:granted
368:suzerain
317:Florence
136:and the
64:textiles
753:, p. 27
490:(ed.).
446:Cologne
422:Genoese
247:woolens
223:Provins
172:Provins
126:Provins
68:leather
846:
749:
696:
586:
562:
458:Geneva
442:Bruges
370:, the
275:banche
259:pepper
243:marten
239:rabbit
227:Sicily
200:spices
196:entrée
180:Troyes
122:Troyes
84:dyeing
76:spices
74:, and
486:. In
468:Notes
456:, of
452:, of
357:Siena
341:Seine
337:Saône
333:Rhone
325:Genoa
321:Siena
263:drugs
251:linen
88:Genoa
844:ISBN
786:2020
747:ISBN
694:ISBN
584:ISBN
560:ISBN
462:Lyon
448:, a
424:and
339:and
323:and
299:Alps
255:silk
249:and
235:vair
168:Lent
124:and
35:The
835:in
72:fur
47:in
875::
776:.
734:^
688:,
630:10
571:^
545:^
464:.
343:.
335:,
289:.
257:,
241:,
237:,
95:.
70:,
66:,
788:.
538:3
531:9
524:8
210:(
23:(
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