Genoa and the Genoese, 958-1528 - Tapa dura

This book fills a gaping hole in the literature on medieval and Renaissance Italy, at long last giving its due to a city-state that played a central role in the political and economic history of the Mediterranean. (David Abulafia, Cambridge University) In this beautifully produced volume, Epstein provides a general history of Genoa in the Middle Ages. ("Choice") This book has much to offer specialists in Italian history and students of the medieval city in general."" ("Speculum") A learned and intriguing book that touches on issues central to our understanding of the economic history of Genoa. ("Journal of Economic History") This book is a must read for specialists of medieval and early modern Italy, and highly recommendable to anyone interested in the period. ("Sixteenth Century Journal")

In this comprehensive history of Genoa, Steven Epstein traces the city's transformation from an obscure port into the capital of a small but thriving republic with an extensive overseas empire. His story bridges six centuries of medieval and Renaissance history, interweaving political events, economic trends, social conditions, and cultural accomplishments. Profiling the ordinary men and women of Genoa as well as the nobles and merchants who governed the city, Epstein seeks to capture the full richness and eclectic nature of the Genoese people during their most vibrant centuries.