Social relations and consumer activity of the Antwerp elite (17th-18th century).

Research on social relations behind and constructed by consumer activities through quantitative and qualitative investigation of the 'flow' of goods/services and trade-partners, using household journals, accounts and correspondence of 17th-18th century members of the Antwerp social elite. By inquiring what was being bought from whom, an attempt will be made to reconstruct the social network and the 'flow' patterns of consumption from within the actors themselves, and thus discovering the how and why regarding consumer activity, the relevant social relations (credit-relations, reciprocity, etc.), the use of goods, and any evolutions thereof.

Keywords:SOCIAL RELATIONS, 17TH-18TH CENTURY, CONSUMER HISTORY, ANTWERP

Disciplines:Economic history, Anthropology, History