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An Economic History of Portugal, 1143–2010
This book offers a fascinating exploration of the evolution of the Portuguese economy over the course of eight centuries, from the foundation of the kingdom in 1143, when political boundaries began to take shape in the midst of the Christian Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula, and the formation of an empire, to the integration of the nation into the European Communities and the Economic and Monetary Union. Through six chapters, the authors provide a vibrant history of Portugal's past with a focus ranging from the medieval economy and the age of globalization, to war and recovery, the Atlantic economy, the rise of liberalism and patterns of convergence. The book provides a unique long-term perspective of change in a southern European country and its empire, which responds to the fundamental broader questions about when, how and why economies expand, stagnate or contract.
418 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
About the author
Leonor Freire Costa
20 books3 followersMARIA LEONOR FREIRE COSTA nasceu em Lisboa, a 4 de Novembro de 1961. É licenciada em História, pela Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (1983) e doutorada em História Económica e Social, pelo Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão da Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (2001), onde fez a agregação em História Económica e Social (2009). Actualmente, é Professora Catedrática do Departamento de Ciências Sociais do ISEG, Investigadora do Gabinete de História Económica e Social (GHES-CSG/ISEG/UL), desde 1989, e Investigadora Associada do Instituto de Ciências Sociais (ICS-UL). Coordenou o projecto Dívida Soberana e Crédito Privado em Portugal (1668-1797), entre 2018 e 2022, com financiamento da Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. Foi vice-presidente da Associação Portuguesa de História Económica e Social (APHES).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 6, 2018
History is just one damned thing after another.
An economic history of Portugal is a showcase on why in my opinion, a history book needs a narrative. A history book without a plot and stage is merely a list of events that leaves little to no impression on a reader. The book was sorry to say a bland experience that has already mostly left my mind.
Every chapter goes into detailed analysis of agricultural, industrial(craft) production, trade and finance policies and deemed relevant geopolitics and national politics. What this book sorely needed was reconstruction of lives, what did it mean to be a farmer in 12th century Portugal compared to a 17th century one; what did a merchant have to deal with on a monthly basis in 18th century trade networks, how was life for a potter in Porto compared to Lisbon and so on. In stead we get an endless barrage of comments on production rates and policies that fail to differ from on another; what does it really mean on the ground when the 18th century Portuguese government supported trade of wine, that is what I want to know.
The authors seems obsessed more so with other commentaries and studies on the economic situation of Portugal that according to the authors has repeatedly been to focused on crisis that obscure a reality of relative stable accumulative growth throughout the ages. But from a human perspective that makes little sense; sure the Napoleonic wars are short when compared to the full 19th century but surely it is more then a little blip on the minds of ruled and rulers? Can the destruction of Lisbon during the earthquake of 1775 be reduced to a page? Apparently so for the earthquake is deemed a lot less important then the reforms of the then minister. I can't help but wonder that is it not the crisis that shape the mind and spirit of communities that interacts with the long term structural developments and thus determine the real impact they have on lives and is not this that is truly relevant when studying societies? I Guess I am a narratavist at heart....
One true exception to the lack of wider social impact of economic events, the Restoration of the Portuguese kingdom in 1640 as brought upon by a Spanish crown tax reform that failed to adequately respect customs and right of representation that the Portuguese nobles and notables had. What was interesting is that it seems as if all it really changed for Portuguese society was the end receiver of the taxes; because the liberating Portuguese kingdom kept those taxes in place. Like the american Revolution the key seemed to have been representation, no taxes without it. Even if the representation was that of 17th century Portuguese nobles, clerics and a select group of rich merchants not the people as the case of the American colonies (even if that was also limited to men holding land property). Sadly this reflection on the role of taxes and perception of representation as basis of just government is the only truly memorable part of the book that failed to leave an impression either positive or negative.
One exception perhaps on the negative, one point that really bothered me, is that despite giving plenty and rightfully attention to Brazil as part of the Portuguese economic system; the authors barely discuss the Portuguese presence in India and Africa or the trade in the pacific. I Can accept that it had less economic impact then the Brazilian region but based on this book one would forget that the Portuguese even had African colonies let alone 4, two of which among the biggest in Africa!
I refrain from reducing my rating to a one star simply because they did put in a lot of work into this; the numbers, the policies, the correspondence it is all there but as said, without a real plot it fails to inspire....
An economic history of Portugal is a showcase on why in my opinion, a history book needs a narrative. A history book without a plot and stage is merely a list of events that leaves little to no impression on a reader. The book was sorry to say a bland experience that has already mostly left my mind.
Every chapter goes into detailed analysis of agricultural, industrial(craft) production, trade and finance policies and deemed relevant geopolitics and national politics. What this book sorely needed was reconstruction of lives, what did it mean to be a farmer in 12th century Portugal compared to a 17th century one; what did a merchant have to deal with on a monthly basis in 18th century trade networks, how was life for a potter in Porto compared to Lisbon and so on. In stead we get an endless barrage of comments on production rates and policies that fail to differ from on another; what does it really mean on the ground when the 18th century Portuguese government supported trade of wine, that is what I want to know.
The authors seems obsessed more so with other commentaries and studies on the economic situation of Portugal that according to the authors has repeatedly been to focused on crisis that obscure a reality of relative stable accumulative growth throughout the ages. But from a human perspective that makes little sense; sure the Napoleonic wars are short when compared to the full 19th century but surely it is more then a little blip on the minds of ruled and rulers? Can the destruction of Lisbon during the earthquake of 1775 be reduced to a page? Apparently so for the earthquake is deemed a lot less important then the reforms of the then minister. I can't help but wonder that is it not the crisis that shape the mind and spirit of communities that interacts with the long term structural developments and thus determine the real impact they have on lives and is not this that is truly relevant when studying societies? I Guess I am a narratavist at heart....
One true exception to the lack of wider social impact of economic events, the Restoration of the Portuguese kingdom in 1640 as brought upon by a Spanish crown tax reform that failed to adequately respect customs and right of representation that the Portuguese nobles and notables had. What was interesting is that it seems as if all it really changed for Portuguese society was the end receiver of the taxes; because the liberating Portuguese kingdom kept those taxes in place. Like the american Revolution the key seemed to have been representation, no taxes without it. Even if the representation was that of 17th century Portuguese nobles, clerics and a select group of rich merchants not the people as the case of the American colonies (even if that was also limited to men holding land property). Sadly this reflection on the role of taxes and perception of representation as basis of just government is the only truly memorable part of the book that failed to leave an impression either positive or negative.
One exception perhaps on the negative, one point that really bothered me, is that despite giving plenty and rightfully attention to Brazil as part of the Portuguese economic system; the authors barely discuss the Portuguese presence in India and Africa or the trade in the pacific. I Can accept that it had less economic impact then the Brazilian region but based on this book one would forget that the Portuguese even had African colonies let alone 4, two of which among the biggest in Africa!
I refrain from reducing my rating to a one star simply because they did put in a lot of work into this; the numbers, the policies, the correspondence it is all there but as said, without a real plot it fails to inspire....
October 9, 2017
lido como textbook - não lido na íntegra
January 14, 2015
bom ....1394 alqueire de trigo em lisboa 11 a 16 reais e em braga só 4 a 6 reais e inda dizem cu alentejo era o celeiro dus rumanus 1402 rio maior 20 reais por alqueire 1419 santarém 8 reais em 1389 eram 50 soldos ou seja 5 reais dos tais 1423 ceuta 14 reais ou réis 1485 1486 o alqueire em lisboa vai dos 40 aos 100 reais entre douro e minho só 25 reais LISBOA FOI SEMPRE CARA...desde cus amarikanus chegaram ós azores DESDE QUE OS AMARIKANUS VIERAM AO MUNDO OS EMPREGADOS E DONOS DE BARES PROSTITUTAS E SEUS CHULOS TIVERAM BASTOS INCREMENTOS MONETÁRIOS OS AMERICANOS DINAMIZARAM A ECONOMIA ONDE QUER QUE INVADISSEM OU METESSEM BASES PASSADORES DE DROGA MOTORISTAS DE TÁXI PESSOAL MERCADO NEGRO....E DO JOGO ASCENDERAM AO TOPO DA PIRÂMIDE ECONÓMICO-POLÍTICO-SOCIAL-SEXUAL VER BERLUSCONI E LOJAS MAÇÓNICAS A CLASSE MÉDIA OBVIAMENTE ADMITO-O FOI-SE ABAIXO PORQUE COM O DÓLAR EXPORTA-SE FÉ E INFLAÇÃO
AS RENDAS DAS CASAS FICAM MAIS CARAS OS AMERICANOS PAGAM MAIS AS GAJAS FICAM MAIS CARAS OS AMERICANUS PAGAM MAIS OS PUTOS DA CASA PIA FICAM CARÍSSIMOS OS...ETC OS TAXISTAS PREFEREM OS AMERICANOS AOS CIGANOS E AOS DROGADOS OS AMERICANOS ESFAQUEIAM MENOS QUANDO DÃO A GORGETA ,,,,E RECLAMAM MENOS DA BANDEIRADA A INFLAÇÃO GERADA PELA DESPESA AMARIKANA É UMA CONSTANTE DESDE QUE COMEÇARAM A FAZER DESPESA E DAÍ OS NATIVOS COM MENOR PODER DE COMPRA E INFERIOR NÍVEL DE VIDA E COM AS GAJAS MAIS FEIOSAS E OBVIAMENTE RESSENTEM-SE E VÃO-SE AO ESTADO ISLÂMICO ...E DESEJAM A VITÓRIA DOS CHARLIE....OS VIETCONGS ÇA VA?
AS RENDAS DAS CASAS FICAM MAIS CARAS OS AMERICANOS PAGAM MAIS AS GAJAS FICAM MAIS CARAS OS AMERICANUS PAGAM MAIS OS PUTOS DA CASA PIA FICAM CARÍSSIMOS OS...ETC OS TAXISTAS PREFEREM OS AMERICANOS AOS CIGANOS E AOS DROGADOS OS AMERICANOS ESFAQUEIAM MENOS QUANDO DÃO A GORGETA ,,,,E RECLAMAM MENOS DA BANDEIRADA A INFLAÇÃO GERADA PELA DESPESA AMARIKANA É UMA CONSTANTE DESDE QUE COMEÇARAM A FAZER DESPESA E DAÍ OS NATIVOS COM MENOR PODER DE COMPRA E INFERIOR NÍVEL DE VIDA E COM AS GAJAS MAIS FEIOSAS E OBVIAMENTE RESSENTEM-SE E VÃO-SE AO ESTADO ISLÂMICO ...E DESEJAM A VITÓRIA DOS CHARLIE....OS VIETCONGS ÇA VA?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews