The purpose of this paper is to survey the textile based proto-industrialism in Sweden in the middle of the 19th century. This case study is founded upon Anders Hansson’s pre-industrial textile production at the estate of Mölneby, Östra Frölunda in the rural district of Kind in the province of Västra Götaland. Account books from the year 1853 related to Anders Hansson’s wool fabric manufacturing have been looked into and categorized using a quantitative research method. The research has also been supplemented with a number of interviews. The result of the survey shows that Anders Hansson’s business activities fit into Mendel’s theory of proto-industrialists at a practice level. By collaborating with a merchant in Gothenburg the fabrics were traded in unknown markets, as well as in more familiar neighbouring districts. The amount of production varied due to agricultural season. Usually it contributed to the income of the peasant’s family, but for some people living in poor-houses it was their only income. The theory of proto-industrialism also assumes that there is a surplus of food production in adjacent districts, something that is not completely evident in this study. However, an accumulation of capital can be seen as continuous investments in forest land and agricultural properties took place. Furthermore, the study shows that Anders Hansson’s business activities also led to his acquisition of trading skills as well as specialist knowledge of how to organize production. Consequently, the conclusion of the study has to be put forward in the following way: by looking into the case study and earlier research of the proto-industrial theory it is evident that this activity at practice level co-existed in a symbiotic relationship in the rural society as well as in the urban society. Mendel’s proto-industrial theory discusses and analyses different parts of this manufacturing as a contributing factor to the industrialization or as in the case of Anders Hansson’s manufacturing; the de-industrialization.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:kau-6855 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Risenfors, Kristina |
| Publisher | Karlstads universitet, Fakulteten för samhälls- och livsvetenskaper, Karlstads universitet, Fakulteten för samhälls- och livsvetenskaper |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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