Comercio, instituciones y orden espontáneo durante la plena Edad Media en el Occidente Medieval

Abstract

This article seeks to approach the trade of the high Middle Ages in the medieval West through the concept of spontaneous order. In order to do this, in the first place, the notion of spontaneous order will be explained, as well as other related concepts, such as “institution” or “trade”. In the second place, we will study some of the institutions that made medieval trade possible, including manors and the movements of the peace and truce of God. Finally, in the third place, medieval trade will be analysed as an spontaneous order, formed by phenomena such as markets and fairs, commercial contracts or merchants’ organizations.