Toll collection and economic development in twelfh-century Flanders

The twelfth century is generally considered as a period of economic growth and trade intensification in Europe. This commercial development was characterised by a revival of long-distance trade, a growth of trade volumes and a diversification of commodities. Due to the source bias, many historians have, however, attributed a rather peripheral role to Northwestern Europe in this narrative. Notably, the exact chronology and character of this commercial development in a fast developing region like coastal Flanders has long been disregarded by historians. By deploying sources on toll collection, m... Mehr ...