PATRICK O'BRIEN is Centennial Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Convenor of the Programme in Global History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. MARJOLEIN 'T HART is Lecturer in Social and Economic History at the University of Amsterdam. DEREK KEENE is Director of the Centre for Metropolitan History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. He has published extensively on cities, metropolises and their hinterlands between the seventh and nineteenth centuries. BARON HERMAN VAN DER WEE is Emeritus Professor of Social and Economic History at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

• Part 1. Introduction: 1. Reflexions and mediations on three cities as sources and sites for achievement Patrick O'Brien; Part II. Economic Growth and Demographic Change: 2. Economies of Agglomeration and the Golden Age of Antwerp Michael Limberger; 3. Clusters of achievement: the economy of Amsterdam in its Golden Age Clé Lesger; 4. The economy of London, 1660–1730 Peter Earle; Part III. Architecture and Urban Space: 5. One of the largest cities in the low countries; One of the best fortified in Europe Piet Lombaerde; 6. The glorious city: monumentalism and public space in seventeenth century Amsterdam Marjeolin 't Hart; 7. Architecture and urban space in London Judy Loach; Part IV. Fine and Decorative Arts: 8. The fine and decorative arts in Antwerp's Golden Age Hans Vlieghe; 9. The rise of Amsterdam as a cultural centre: the market for paintings, 1580–1680 Marten Jan Bok; 10. Cultural production and import substitution: the fine and decorative arts in London, 1660–1730 David Ormrod; Part V. Books and Publishing: 11. Antwerp: books, publishing and cultural production before 1585 Werner Waterschoot; 12. Metropolis of print: the Amsterdam book trade in the seventeenth century Paul Hoftijzer; 13. Printing, publishing and reading in London, 1660–1720 Adrian Johns; Part VI. Scientific and Useful Knowledge: 14. Science for sale: the metropolitan stimulus for scientific achievements in sixteenth century Antwerp Geert Vanpaemel; 15. Amsterdam as a centre of Dutch learning in the Dutch Golden Age Karel Davids; 16. Philosophers in the counting-houses: commerce, coffee-houses and experiment in early modern London Larry Stewart.

"...[an] useful and interesting book of essays that are, in their own right, uniformly knowledgeable, clearly written and eminently readable. There is a great deal here to admire and savor..." Bryn Mawr Review of Comparative Literature

PATRICK O'BRIEN is Centennial Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Convenor of the Programme in Global History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. MARJOLEIN 'T HART is Lecturer in Social and Economic History at the University of Amsterdam. DEREK KEENE is Director of the Centre for Metropolitan History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. He has published extensively on cities, metropolises and their hinterlands between the seventh and nineteenth centuries. BARON HERMAN VAN DER WEE is Emeritus Professor of Social and Economic History at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

• Part 1. Introduction: 1. Reflexions and mediations on three cities as sources and sites for achievement Patrick O'Brien; Part II. Economic Growth and Demographic Change: 2. Economies of Agglomeration and the Golden Age of Antwerp Michael Limberger; 3. Clusters of achievement: the economy of Amsterdam in its Golden Age Clé Lesger; 4. The economy of London, 1660–1730 Peter Earle; Part III. Architecture and Urban Space: 5. One of the largest cities in the low countries; One of the best fortified in Europe Piet Lombaerde; 6. The glorious city: monumentalism and public space in seventeenth century Amsterdam Marjeolin 't Hart; 7. Architecture and urban space in London Judy Loach; Part IV. Fine and Decorative Arts: 8. The fine and decorative arts in Antwerp's Golden Age Hans Vlieghe; 9. The rise of Amsterdam as a cultural centre: the market for paintings, 1580–1680 Marten Jan Bok; 10. Cultural production and import substitution: the fine and decorative arts in London, 1660–1730 David Ormrod; Part V. Books and Publishing: 11. Antwerp: books, publishing and cultural production before 1585 Werner Waterschoot; 12. Metropolis of print: the Amsterdam book trade in the seventeenth century Paul Hoftijzer; 13. Printing, publishing and reading in London, 1660–1720 Adrian Johns; Part VI. Scientific and Useful Knowledge: 14. Science for sale: the metropolitan stimulus for scientific achievements in sixteenth century Antwerp Geert Vanpaemel; 15. Amsterdam as a centre of Dutch learning in the Dutch Golden Age Karel Davids; 16. Philosophers in the counting-houses: commerce, coffee-houses and experiment in early modern London Larry Stewart.

"...[an] useful and interesting book of essays that are, in their own right, uniformly knowledgeable, clearly written and eminently readable. There is a great deal here to admire and savor..." Bryn Mawr Review of Comparative Literature

PATRICK O'BRIEN is Centennial Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Convenor of the Programme in Global History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. MARJOLEIN 'T HART is Lecturer in Social and Economic History at the University of Amsterdam. DEREK KEENE is Director of the Centre for Metropolitan History at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London. He has published extensively on cities, metropolises and their hinterlands between the seventh and nineteenth centuries. BARON HERMAN VAN DER WEE is Emeritus Professor of Social and Economic History at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

• Part 1. Introduction: 1. Reflexions and mediations on three cities as sources and sites for achievement Patrick O'Brien; Part II. Economic Growth and Demographic Change: 2. Economies of Agglomeration and the Golden Age of Antwerp Michael Limberger; 3. Clusters of achievement: the economy of Amsterdam in its Golden Age Clé Lesger; 4. The economy of London, 1660–1730 Peter Earle; Part III. Architecture and Urban Space: 5. One of the largest cities in the low countries; One of the best fortified in Europe Piet Lombaerde; 6. The glorious city: monumentalism and public space in seventeenth century Amsterdam Marjeolin 't Hart; 7. Architecture and urban space in London Judy Loach; Part IV. Fine and Decorative Arts: 8. The fine and decorative arts in Antwerp's Golden Age Hans Vlieghe; 9. The rise of Amsterdam as a cultural centre: the market for paintings, 1580–1680 Marten Jan Bok; 10. Cultural production and import substitution: the fine and decorative arts in London, 1660–1730 David Ormrod; Part V. Books and Publishing: 11. Antwerp: books, publishing and cultural production before 1585 Werner Waterschoot; 12. Metropolis of print: the Amsterdam book trade in the seventeenth century Paul Hoftijzer; 13. Printing, publishing and reading in London, 1660–1720 Adrian Johns; Part VI. Scientific and Useful Knowledge: 14. Science for sale: the metropolitan stimulus for scientific achievements in sixteenth century Antwerp Geert Vanpaemel; 15. Amsterdam as a centre of Dutch learning in the Dutch Golden Age Karel Davids; 16. Philosophers in the counting-houses: commerce, coffee-houses and experiment in early modern London Larry Stewart.

"...[an] useful and interesting book of essays that are, in their own right, uniformly knowledgeable, clearly written and eminently readable. There is a great deal here to admire and savor..." Bryn Mawr Review of Comparative Literature