Global Trade, Smuggling, and the Making of Economic Liberalism

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Focusing on the influence of global trade in early modern France, the narrative explores the 1686 ban on Asian textiles, which sparked widespread smuggling, illicit retail, and consumer uprisings. It also highlights the French administration's attempts to obtain textile production technology, marking a significant shift towards the liberal Enlightenment political economy. The book reveals the complex interplay between commerce, governance, and social movements during this transformative period.