THE ANALYSIS OF LARGE SOCIAL SYSTEMS IN GLOBAL HISTORY: A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

This article begins from the assumption that in a rapidly globalizing world, an important frontier in the understanding of the history of human society is the recognition and definition of large social systems. We begin with an attempt to define the ‘large social system’, proceed with analyzing the best methodology for defining and measuring such a system.  It is argued that large social systems often have particular economic or institutional characteristics which act as ‘sinews’ for the system.  At the same time, a large social system is often to be found hiding in ‘plain sight’ as it were.  This is because its scale does not easily conform to a single nation or culture—the usual units of analysis for historians of human society.  Thus, simply identifying a large social system, and defining its temporal and geographical boundaries, can bring significant insights.  Identifying key mechanisms which actuate the system is often integral to the definition process. Of course, there are existing methodologies which can be of greater and lesser use for defining and explaining the workings of large social systems.  We consider four of these:  so-called ‘Global History’, World History, Comparative History, and New Institutionalism.  The pros and cons of each of these methodologies are briefly assessed, and some new methodologies and guidelines are suggested for moving forwards with this exciting frontier in historical, economic, and social science

The Land Commenda in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon and the Rise of a ‘Democratic’ Investment Culture

This paper presents evidence for the use of the ‘commenda’ contract as a means of investment and accumulating entrepreneurial capital in the Bages region of Catalonia during the later thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This use of a ‘land commenda’ in eastern Iberia is at present known only to a few specialists, but it might have been more widespread and deserves further study. The land commenda helped fuel the commercial boom in Catalonia in the decades around 1300. It was often utilized by smaller investors and modest entrepreneurs, and helped mobilize capital from a broad spectrum of Catalans. The chronology of land commenda use suggests that as interest rates declined in the later fourteenth century, and as new instruments were developed, smaller investors’ savings were left underutilized. 

The Land Commenda in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon and the Rise of a ‘Democratic’ Investment Culture

This paper presents evidence for the use of the ‘commenda’ contract as a means of investment and accumulating entrepreneurial capital in the Bages region of Catalonia during the later thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This use of a ‘land commenda’ in eastern Iberia is at present known only to a few specialists, but it might have been more widespread and deserves further study. The land commenda helped fuel the commercial boom in Catalonia in the decades around 1300. It was often utilized by smaller investors and modest entrepreneurs, and helped mobilize capital from a broad spectrum of Catalans. The chronology of land commenda use suggests that as interest rates declined in the later fourteenth century, and as new instruments were developed, smaller investors’ savings were left underutilized. 

The French navy and war entrepreneurs: Identity, business relations, conflicts, and cooperation in the eighteenth century

International audienceThe aim of this article is to provide comprehensive insight into the identity and role of war entrepreneurs in the service of the French navy. The markets that link the state to economic actors can be complex, from simple commercial agreements to deliver hardware or provide a service to a richer relationship leading to a partnership where entrepreneurs participate in the overall improvement of the armed forces (infrastructure financing, integration of the economic and technical standards of the navy, etc.)