Routledge - The Politics of Provisions: Food Riots in England

Explore the deep connection between food politics and the economic evolution of England. This book examines how food marketing and consumption functioned as political tools as the nation transitioned into a market society between 1550 and 1850. During periods of food scarcity, the relationship between the public and authorities was shaped by a cycle of food riots, repression, and relief. This work analyzes how these events created a maturing politics of provisions. Across three centuries, approximately eight hundred riots occurred in waves throughout England, involving crowds that seized wagons, attacked mills and granaries, or worked to lower prices in marketplaces and farmyards. Readers will learn how rioters often parleyed with magistrates, participating in a well-rehearsed political process. This historical study offers a detailed look at the social and economic forces that defined the era, making it a valuable resource for those studying the history of retailing, consumption, and economic change.