Organisers
The cotton industry has long been a central attraction for economic historians interested in explaining the dynamics of economic development and technological change. Their emphasis has, however, been upon the periods immediately before, during and after the Industrial Revolution.
The histories of commerce and connexions between the producers and consumers of cotton textiles in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe in the medieval and early modern periods remain under-researched. This session on 'Cotton Textiles as a Global Industry' will address world connexions across the industry by gathering together scholars with expertise on the long-run histories of industries located in Europe, the Middle East, India, China and Japan.
Although the secondary literature on some countries (e.g. Britain and India) is rich, much less is known about the production, trade and consumption of cotton textiles in the Ottoman Empire, China, West Africa, the Americas and the West Indies. Papers will address the question of when, how and why the evolution of cotton industries in several areas of the world contributed to long-run development. Contributors are expected to address major global history questions by elaborating upon interconnections across space and by analysing the paths and patterns of development in several regions around the world.
Contact
Dr. Giorgio Riello
Global Economic History Network (GEHN)
Economic History Department
London School of Economics
Houghton Street
London, WC2A 2AE
UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7955 6482
Fax: +44 (0)20 7955 7730
E-mail: g.riello@lse.ac.uk|