Family Firms and Merchant Capitalism in Early Modern Europe - The Business, Bankruptcy Resilience of Hoechstetters of Augsburg

This fascinating study follows the fortunes of the Höchstetter family, merchant-manufacturers and financiers of Augsburg, Germany, in the late-fifteenth and early-sixteenth centuries, and sheds light on the economic and social history of failure and resilience in early modern Europe. Carefully tracing the chronology of the family's rise, fall and transformation, it moves from the micro- to the macro-level, making comparisons with other mercantile families of the time to draw conclusions and suggest insights into such issues as social mobility, capitalist organization, business techniques, market practices and economic institutions. The result is a microhistory that offers macro-conclusions about the lived experience of early capitalism and capitalistic practices.

This book will be valuable reading for advanced students and researchers of economic, financial and business history, legal history and early modern European history.

List of contents

List of Figures. List of Maps. Note on Money. Note on Translations. Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Family Firms Considered: "Ambrosius and Hans, the Brothers Höchstetter and Associates". 2. Capitalistic Practices: The Höchstetter Brassworks at Pflach. 3. Crisis and Insolvency: Information Management by and about the Höchstetters. 4. Bankruptcy: Local Institutions and their Consequences 5. Bankruptcy: Financial Markets and Credit Networks. 6. Ruin and Recovery: The Question of Resilience and the Höchstetter "Family Firm". Conclusion. Appendix 1: Rising Höchstetter Fortunes. Appendix 2: Höchstetter Creditors. Bibliography. Index.

About the author

Thomas Max Safley is Professor of Early Modern European History at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Summary

This fascinating study follows the fortunes of the Höchstetter family, merchant-manufacturers and financiers of Augsburg, Germany in the late-fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, and sheds light on the economic and social history of failure and resilience in early modern Europe.

Product details

• Authors: Thomas Max Safley, Thomas Max (University of Pennsylvania Safley, Safley Thomas Max
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.06.2021
• EAN: 9781032084725
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3208472-5
• No. of pages: 300
• Series: Routledge Explorations in Economic History
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Modern era up to 1918; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Management; HISTORY / Europe / Germany, Business & Economics / General, European History, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / General, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economic History, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Banks & Banking, Banking, HISTORY / Modern / 16th Century, Economic history, c 1500 onwards to present day, Management & management techniques, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, History and Archaeology, Management and management techniques, Credit & Credit Institutions