Immigrants and the diffusion of skills in early modern London : the case of silk weaving

London in the 16th and 17th centuries was a place of phenomenal change and growth. This paper argues that immigration from Europe played a pivotal role in this economic change, as the arrival of merchants and artisans prompted rapid technological development in many trades and crafts, particularly silk weaving and beer brewing. The process of technological transfer in these crafts spanned over a long period of time and did not take place in a linear step. It was reliant on migrants to develop, share and in some cases, adapt their skills, to exploit the burgeoning economic opportunities afforde... Mehr ...