Categories
Economic History Exam Questions Harvard

Harvard. European Economic History. Description, Enrollment, Exams. Gray and Gay, 1909-1910

Historical time and cultural space are dimensions that have collapsed in the training of the the 21st century economist. We again take you back to view some of the economic history course offerings found in early 20th century Harvard. OK, let’s be honest, even at that time we can see from the course enrollments that there were only three graduate students with Latin skills robust enough to handle medieval texts (Si verum quaeris). It is also charming to see that Edwin F. Gay’s  “modern economic history” goes all the way up to … the beginning of the 19th century.

________________________

Earlier Courses
European Economic History

1902-03. Economics 10. The Mediaeval Economic History of Europe. [E.F. Gay]

1904-05. Economics 10. The Mediaeval Economic History of Europe. [E.F. Gay, only one student enrolled, no printed exam available]

1905-06. Economics 10. Mediaeval Economic History of Europe. [E.F. Gay]

1906-07. Economics 6a. European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century. [E.F. Gay]

1907-08. Economics 6a. European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century. [E.F. Gay]

1908-09. Economics 6a. European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century. [E.F. Gay with M.T. Copeland]

1909-10. Economics 6a. European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century. [E.F. Gay with H. L. Gray]

1902-03. Economics 11. Economic History of Europe since 1500. [E.F. Gay]

1903-04. Economics 11. Modern Economic History of Europe. [E.F. Gay]

1904-05. Economics 11. Modern Economic History of Europe. [E.F. Gay]

1905-06. Economics 11. Modern Economic History of Europe. [E.F. Gay]

1907-08. Economics 11. Modern Economic History of Europe. [E.F. Gay]

Other Economic History Material

1903-04. Economics 24. General Outlines of Agrarian History. [E.F. Gay]

E.F. Gay and A. P. Usher’s economic history exams from 1930 through 1949.

________________________

Mediaeval Economic History
of Europe

Course Announcement and Description
1909-10

10 2hf. Mediaeval Economic History of Europe. Half-course (second half-year). Mon., Wed., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Fri., at 2.30. Dr. [Howard Levi] Gray.

After a preliminary examination of early economic and social institutions, this course aims to give a general view of the economic development of society during the Middle Ages. Among other topics, the following will be considered: medieval agriculture and serfdom; the manorial system and the economic aspects of feudalism; the beginnings of town life and the gild-system of industry; and the Italian and Hanseatic commercial supremacy.

It is essential that students should possess some reading knowledge of Latin.

Source: Official Register of Harvard University, Vol. VI, No. 29 (23 July 1909). History and Political Science Comprising the Departments of History and Government, and Economics, 1909-10, p. 56.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Course Enrollment
1909-10

Economics 10 2hf. Dr. [Howard Levi] Gray. — Mediaeval Economic History of Europe.

Total 3: 3 Graduates.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1909-1910, p. 44.

________________________

Modern Economic History
of Europe

Course Announcement and Description
1909-10

  1. Modern Economic History of Europe. Tu., Th., and (at the pleasure of the instructor) Sat., al 10. Professor Gay.

At the outset a survey will be made of economic and social conditions in the chief European countries at the close of the Middle Ages. The history of agriculture, industry, and commerce in the succeeding periods down to the beginning of the nineteenth century will then be treated in some detail. England will receive the emphasis due to its increasing importance during this period.

Course 11 is open to students who have taken Economics 1 or History 1.

Source: Official Register of Harvard University, Vol. VI, No. 29 (23 July 1909). History and Political Science Comprising the Departments of History and Government, and Economics, 1909-10, p. 56.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Course Enrollment
1909-10

Economics 11. Professor Gay. — Modern Economic History of Europe.

Total 12: 4 Graduates, 4 Juniors, 2 Sophomores, 2 Others.

Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College, 1909-1910, p. 44.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

ECONOMICS 11
Mid-year Examination, 1909-10

  1. Explain briefly: —
    1. the open field system,
    2. the manorial system,
    3. copyhold,
    4. Meierrecht,
    5. Erbuntertänigkeit,
    6. yeomanry.
  2. —
    1. The second chapter in the class outline of the “Decline of the Manorial System” was entitled “The Decline of Serfdom.” Write this chapter in as full detail as your time permits.
    2. State briefly why, in your opinion, serfdom disappeared earlier in England than on the Continent.
  3. Describe the chief changes in the English craft gild in the sixteenth century.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University. Mid-year Examinations, 1852-1943. Box 8, Bound Volume: Examination Papers, Mid-Years 1909-10.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

ECONOMICS 11
Year-end Examination, 1909-10

  1. —
    1. Discuss this statement:
      “In many ways the Statute of Artificers marks the transition between the gild system and the later methods of labor regulation, although the intention of the Statute to accomplish this transition is by no means certain.”
    2. Outline the policy of public regulation of prices and wages in England from the Statute of Laborers to the beginning of the nineteenth century.
  2. State the extent, causes, and results of the price movement of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
  3. —
    1. Describe the forms of company organization in England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Account for the change in the attitude of public opinion toward the companies.
    2. Compare the development of mercantile companies in England, France, and Holland.
  4. In 1665 a Dutch merchant desired to ship from Amsterdam to London the following commodities: Portuguese wine, currants, olive-oil, herring, Russian timber, Prussian grain, Java coffee, and Delft tiles. How legally could he ship each commodity? Would he have shipped in the same way ten years earlier?
  5. Define (a) the manorial system, (b) the gild system, (c) the domestic system. Comment briefly on (d) John Hales, (e) the Fuggers, (f) Colbert.

Write on one of the following topics in English economic history
prior to 1800:—

  1. The problem of interest.
  2. The poor laws.
  3. Indirect taxation.

Source: Harvard University Archives. Harvard University, Examination Papers, 1873-1915. Box 9, Bound vol. Examination Papers 1910-11; Papers Set for Final Examinations in History, Government, Economics,…,Music in Harvard College (June, 1910), pp. 47-48.

Image Source: Regts Delft Tiles website.