This work investigates the structural evolution and mechanisms of European international trade during the early modern period, specifically between 1500 and 1750. Kristof Glamann, a noted economic historian, utilizes archival records and trade statistics to analyze the shift from Mediterranean-centered commerce to the rise of Atlantic and global trade networks. The text provides a rigorous framework for understanding how mercantilist policies, joint-stock companies, and shifting commodity demands shaped the economic foundations of modern Europe.

The subject matter points to a dense, specialist text intended for academic researchers and students of economic history. The framing suggests a foundational, data-driven approach to the complexities of early modern trade systems.