Every time I read any piece about pre-industrial history, I am surprised how extensive trade seems to be (eg. people in the Pacific Northwest traded salmon with people from the Great Plains). It seems like the more we learn about people who lived before the world began to industrialize, the more we realize trade was a primary activity. I don't think I'm willing to downplay it as much as Beckert does. I think the role of merchant may have been as uncommon as he makes out, but I bet most people were regularly involved in some kind of trade.
Every time I read any piece about pre-industrial history, I am surprised how extensive trade seems to be (eg. people in the Pacific Northwest traded salmon with people from the Great Plains). It seems like the more we learn about people who lived before the world began to industrialize, the more we realize trade was a primary activity. I don't think I'm willing to downplay it as much as Beckert does. I think the role of merchant may have been as uncommon as he makes out, but I bet most people were regularly involved in some kind of trade.