The Economic Power of a Hospital in Thirteenth-Century Provins

A thirteenth-century hospital in Provins, France, wielded significant economic power, challenging the notion that medieval hospitals were merely charitable institutions. Analysis of its 1300 revenue—1,600 livres tournois annually—reveals it was among the wealthiest religious institutions in northern France, comparable to monasteries. This study shifts focus from hospitals' social and religious roles to their economic activities, using census data to quantify their financial influence during Provins' peak as a commercial hub under King Philip the Fair's domain.

Davis, A. J. (2013). The Economic Power of a Hospital in Thirteenth-Century Provins. Center and Periphery, 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004249035_011