COURTS AND COMMERCE

Exploring the intersection of economic, legal, and gender history, the book delves into the eighteenth-century market economy of colonial New York. Through an extensive analysis of various historical documents, it reveals how laws enabled men to expand their economic networks while limiting women's market participation. The narrative uniquely compares urban and rural experiences and highlights the law's role in economic development, offering a nuanced view of how gender dynamics influenced economic opportunities during this transformative period.