The emergence of mercantilism as a reaction against Muslim power: some of the evidences from history

Islahi, Abdul Azim (2006): The emergence of mercantilism as a reaction against Muslim power: some of the evidences from history. Published in: Review of Islamic Economics , Vol. 12, No. 1 (2008): pp. 137-150.

Abstract

In the early modern period, changing attitude of Medieval Europe towards trade as an outcome of encounter with Muslim scholars and rulers and consequently emergence of 'mercantilism' was a turning point in the history of economic thought. The paper documents evidences which prove that initially mercantilism was a reaction against Muslim powers. In the rise of mercantilism, discovery of the New World is considered a significant factor. The main objective before explorers and pioneers of mercantilism was to strengthen their governments through the acquisition of precious metal to regain the Holy Places, defeat the enemy, check the expanding power of Muslim rivals and spread Christianity. However, later it ended up in an effective economic movement.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mercantilism; History of Economic Thought; Medieval Economic History.
• Subjects: B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B1 - History of Economic Thought through 1925 > B10 - General; N - Economic History > N1 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics ; Industrial Structure ; Growth ; Fluctuations > N10 - General, International, or Comparative; N - Economic History > N1 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics ; Industrial Structure ; Growth ; Fluctuations > N15 - Asia including Middle East; B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches > B1 - History of Economic Thought through 1925 > B15 - Historical ; Institutional ; Evolutionary

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