London's triumph : merchants, adventurers, and money in Shakespeare's city
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 259-295) and index.

During the sixteenth century, England was being transformed economically by the astonishing discoveries of the New World and of direct sea routes to Asia. At the start of the century, London was a gloomy, introverted medieval city. But as the century progressed, London was placed at the center of the world stage. Alford brings to life the network of merchants, visionaries, crooks, and sailors who changed London and England forever. As English ships were suddenly found all over the world, the people who made this possible are as interesting as any of those at court.