Inventories are among the oldest documents to survive from ancient times. Textiles take an important place within them and inform – among other things – about value, context of use, material, fashion, trade or techniques. This is all the more relevant, as textiles were then the most important trade goods after bullion and food. The articles of this volume focus on the time between the High Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period. They represent different approaches to this fascinating topic whose social framework includes popes, kings, merchants and farmers.
The editors
Prof Dr Thomas Ertl teaches economic and social history of the Middle Ages at the University of Vienna.
Dr Barbara Karl is curator of the collection of historic fabrics at the St. Gallen Textile Museum, Switzerland.
