211. Boring Administrative History; Smuggling and Moving Money Artwork

Hanging with History

The first season focuses on the origins of the Industrial Revolution or the Great Enrichment, we go deep into history to gain enough background knowledge to actually understand the various theories of the origins of the Great Enrichment. Eventually we learn that we also need to know how the miracle was consolidated, as the many other close approaches to the Industrial Revolution failed.A kwirky style, but intellectually ambitious with the goal of understanding history well enough to understand the miracle that happened that one time. It's gonna be a long series.

All Episodes

Hanging with History

211. Boring Administrative History; Smuggling and Moving Money

April 29, 2026 • Harald Hansen • Season 1 • Episode 211

0:00 | 30:09

You can send a text, include contact info to get a response.

The trade war between Britain and Napoleon reached a new level in 1807.

British merchants were desperate for new markets. The French were finding trouble, customs dues fell 80% despite the new Rhine river trade. We've already talked a great deal about how the Russian economy was pushed to the brink.

Smuggling was the response. The British smuggled into the Mediterranean via Malta, and into North Germany through Heligoland. I'll tell you what percent of smuggled British goods were seized by the French officials, you will not believe it.

But the French kicked off an organized smuggling campaign as well, involving 6 different government departments, requiring a lot of paperwork. But under the cover of all this smuggling, quite secretly, banking was taking place.