On Wednesday, October 28, Econopolis customers were invited to the book launch for *Bankers of God and Emperor*, the new book by Peter F. Anthonissen.
About the Book
In 1367, Hans Fugger, a serf farmer, fled his village. Four generations later, the Fuggers were the wealthiest merchants in the world. Their business empire stretched from Antwerp and Amsterdam, through Venice and Rome, to Lisbon and Gdańsk.
Charles V and Philip II had universal ambitions. They wanted an empire where the sun never sets. But power costs money. And they didn’t have any. The Fuggers did. Without their credit, there would be no imperial crown for Charles. Without their capital, there would be no Habsburg Empire.
Antwerp plays a crucial role as the West’s premier commercial hub. A city full of rumors, money, and violence in an era of explorers, religious reform, and the revolutionary printing press.
The Fuggers financed emperors and popes. They introduced the Renaissance north of the Alps and built the first social housing complex. And when the emperor failed to repay his debts, he received a demand letter. A merchant summoning an emperor—unprecedented!
Peter F. Anthonissen tells the improbable story of the greatest social and economic leap in European history—from serfs to bankers to God and the emperor.
Thank you to our customers for joining us for this warm and informative evening!
– The Econopolis Team
