Routledge - Streets of Splendor: Brussels Shopping History

Explore the evolution of urban consumption in Streets of Splendor: Shopping Culture and Spaces in a European Capital City (Brussels, 1830-1914). Published by Routledge, this academic work addresses how urban retailing and consumption patterns shifted during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Instead of focusing on a single type of shopping institution, this book examines the entire urban shopping landscape. By using secondary sources from comparable cities and performing an in-depth empirical analysis of primary sources from Brussels, the author provides a new perspective on city commercialization. This research demonstrates that the rapid growth of commerce in the nineteenth century is best understood by looking at the complete shopping environment rather than isolated stores. This text is an essential resource for those studying business and economic history, urban development, or the social changes within European capital cities. It offers a quantitative approach to understanding how the spaces where people shop helped shape the modern urban experience.