The Merchant in the Confessional: Trade and Price in the Pre-Reformation Penitential Handbooks

Focusing on the intersection of economic activity and moral theology, this volume explores trade and price norms found in penitential handbooks for confessors. It traces the evolution of these norms from early times to the Reformation, analyzing around ninety handbooks and providing biographical insights on their authors. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive overview of penitential doctrine, particularly in late Italian summas, and contrasts this with secular economic ideas from the Renaissance, highlighting the Church's perspective on sin and penance in economic contexts.