>CB: I don't see niche maximization as a good description of European feudalism.
>Was it latent then ?
I think we could all use historical demomgraphic figures. Does someone know a
good book (or something of the sort) about this? I remember browsing one years
ago, and on the charts most of the time the line was going up, up, up. But this might
well have been crappy stuff.
One thing is quite obvious: if you compare the beginning with the end of feudalism,
forests were cut down and population increased in most places. Plus, they were
"ethnic" wars in some places during which a population colonized more land (not to
mention immigration to the Americas).
Anyway, what makes you say that, Charles? Excuse the stupid question, but how
was feudalism radically different from the XIXth century in this respect except for
the
geographical discoveries and technological advances? During feudalism, people
did try to improve productivity and they did try to invade foreign lands. Marx talked
about primary accumulation, right? (See, Tom? I'm not saying primitive
accumulation. Is that OK with you?)
Julien
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