Worldly Goods. A New History of the Renaissance. de Jardine, Lisa - 1996

"In this lively, provocative, and wholly absorbing new book, isa Jardine offers a radical new interpretation, arguing that the creation of culture during the Renaissance was inextricably tied to the creation of wealth-- that the expansion of commerce spurred the expansion of thought. ...While Europe's crowned heads and merchant entrepreneurs competed with each other to acquire works of art from the leading artists of the day, vicious commercial battles were being fought over silks and spices, and over who should control the centers for international trade... The rapidly growing market for printed books-- a new commodity seized upon with equal enthusiasm by investors and consumers-- disseminated the 'new learning' via publishing houses and printing presses across Europe, stimulating the evolution of the European intellectual tradition as much by accident as by design." 470 pages, illustrations including color; bibliography & index; 24 cm. Very Good in VG dust jacket. Stock#ofc0615.