IMC 2011: Sessions

Session 1223: Wealth and Power, Wealth or Power: The Rich, the Poor, and Social Status in Late Medieval Towns

Organiser:	Erik Spindler, Section d'Histoire, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Moderator/Chair:	Ian Forrest, Oriel College, University of Oxford
Paper 1223-a	Spoilt for Choice?: The Correlation between Political Influence and Economical Advantages in a Medieval Town (Language: English) Claudia Esch, Lehrstuhl für Mittelalterliche Geschichte / Zentrum für Mittelalterstudien (ZEMAS), Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg Index terms: Economics - Urban, Politics and Diplomacy
Paper 1223-b	'Marginality' and 'Poverty': Synonymous, Correlated, or Unrelated? (Language: English) Erik Spindler, Section d'Histoire, Université Libre de Bruxelles Index terms: Daily Life, Economics - Urban, Social History
Abstract	Wealth did not necessarily entail a high social status, nor did poverty inevitably lead to a low status. This session will explore correlations between various scales (rich-poor, powerful-powerless, high status-low status). Paper A uses the example of 15th-century Bamberg, with its civic and ecclesiastical jurisdictions, to explore how its inhabitants chose between economic advantages and political representation. Paper B surveys the literature on marginality and, using examples from late medieval London and Bruges, argues against the facile association of relative poverty with a low social status.