Synopses & Reviews
Epstein takes a fresh look at the organization of labor in medieval towns and emphasizes the predominance of a wage system within them. He offers illuminating comment on a wide range of subjectson guilds and guild organization, on women and Jews in the work force, on the value given labor, and on the sources of disaffection. His book presents a feast of themes in medieval social history.
David Herlihy, Brown University
Review
A thoughtful and wide-ranging contribution to the social and economic history of the High Medieval urban milieu.
Journal of Interdisciplinary History
Review
Interesting and comprehensive. . . . A major accomplishment.
Journal of Economic History
Review
"A feast of themes in medieval social history.
David Herlihy, Brown University"
Review
As a much-needed synthesis, [the book] will serve students well.
Speculum A thoughtful and wide-ranging contribution to the social and economic history of the High Medieval urban milieu.
Journal of Interdisciplinary History Interesting and comprehensive. . . . A major accomplishment.
Journal of Economic History A feast of themes in medieval social history.
David Herlihy, Brown University
Synopsis
Relying on a broad range of printed and secondary sources,
Wage Labor and Guilds charts the history of guilds from their antecedents in the Roman Empire to their 'crisis' in the fourteenth century. . . . As a much-needed synthesis, the book] will serve students well.--
Speculum A thoughtful and wide-ranging contribution to the social and economic history of the High Medieval urban milieu.--
Journal of Interdisciplinary History Interesting and comprehensive. . . . A major accomplishment.--
Journal of Economic History Epstein takes a fresh look at the organization of labor in medieval towns and emphasizes the predominance of a wage system within them. He offers illuminating comment on a wide range of subjects--on guilds and guild organization, on women and Jews in the work force, on the value given labor, and on the sources of disaffection. His book presents a feast of themes in medieval social history.--David Herlihy, Brown University
About the Author
Steven A. Epstein, professor of history at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is author of Wills and Wealth in Medieval Genoa, 1150-1250.