Economic history is a fascinating way to discover how commerce and trade has evolved from the past conditions to the present. The following web sites are good resources for studying economic history in the 18th century. First, let me define the main economic system of the Eighteenth century.

Mercantilism is a trade and monetary system by which the government controls all aspects of doing business. Governments implemented policies geared towards increasing the intake of money and maintaining a favorable balance of trade with the rest of the world.

These policies would also include regulations in the agricultural and manufacturing industries of the nation. These policies would in effect set up and sanction a monopoly on foreign trade.

Web Sites

Read what the History Of Economic Thought website has to say on the Physiocrats, the first scientific school of economics that was invented by a group of French Enlightenment philosophers.

The main resource for economic historians is the Economic History Association website. It contains links to Professional Organizations, Academic Journals (none of which are on line), Web sites for Colleges and Academic Departments, Individual Pages, Museums, Institutes, and Archives and other sites of interest to economic historians.

To learn about American Colonial currency, visit the Leslie Brock Center for the Study of Colonial Currency website. It is very comprehensive in this area of economic history, with essays and resources on the subject.