EUI - Early modern industry in Norway at the end of the 18th century?

Many historical studies have shown that participation in commodity production outside, but in combination with agricultural pursuits played an important role in Norwegian economic development in the early modern period,, whether in export trades like fish ing, shipping, forestry or mining. Most of these studies have been carried out at sector level. My project will analyse such activity at the household level, and in relation to the growth of a Norwegian consumer society. The project will also touch on the early development of the global market economy. The two trades examined in the project, the production and manufacturing of tobacco in southern Norway,were each connected to global trade. Furthermore, the production was organized in households or small a nd medium sized enterprises. The projet will thus seek to contribute to our knowledge about the Norwegian economy and to social history. It will also be a Norwegian contribution to European research on how small, marginal countries become part of global p roduction and trade networks.