The Istituto Internazionale di Storia Economica F. Datini of Prato will dedicate the Settimana di Studi 2005 to the economic role of the sea before the Industrial Revolution. Specialists from various fields of research are invited to send a proposal together with a short abstract and curriculum vitae. The proposal should be sent, no later than September 15th, 2003, to the address below.

The Executive Committee of the Istituto will make decisions about acceptance of proposals by 31 October, 2003.

Papers can be presented in Italian, English, French or German. During the conference there will be concurrent translation of the presentation of papers and discussion into these languages. Papers written in Spanish will be accepted, but at the conference authors of these papers must speak in one of the above languages. All papers must be original and not previously published or translated from previously published papers.

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

April 11th Opening address: The sea as a factor of economic development and integration Afternoon: Ecosystem of the sea, lakes and inland countries Lakes: two economic systems to be compared Links between sea, lakes and inland countries

April 12th The sea and its space Natural sea resources and their historical use Integration between land and sea in the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. timber) The coasts and human settlements

April 13th Investments and risk Private and public investments Investments in the infrastructures (dykes, ports, warehouses, wharfs, naval dockyards, cranes) The economic problem of risk (shipwreck, flooding, disease, piracy, corsaire warfare) and juridical consequences Maritime insurance

April 14th Labour and economy related to the sea Dockers Fishermen communities Sailors and their recruitment, organisation and training Brokers and agents Occupational structures in maritime communities (shipowners)

April 15th Ideas, norms and economic perceptions Maritime norms; the 'national' sea; commercial contracts; institutions; political economy of states; maritime authority; treaties.

Conference details will be placed on the website closer to the date of the conference. Submission deadline: 15 September 2003