The Merchants of Moscow 15801650 Author:Paul Bushkovitch This is a controversial study of Russian economic history before the reforms of Peter the Great. Professor Bushkovitch describes the trade of the Moscow merchants with Western Europe (principally England and Holland). Eastern Europe and the Near East, as well as their activities in industry and in government service. Using evidence from Moscow a... more »rchives, he challenges the conventional view that Russia's economic development lagged in this period because of the government's absolute control over and debiliatation of the merchant class. He concludes instead that this was an era of great prosperity and economic expansion for Russia, largely as a result of financial decisions made by a stable, prosperous and essentially autonomous merchant class. The book will be of interest to historians of this period, to students of Russia before Peter the Great and to economic historians generally.« less