中古时期英国的水陆交通

British Land and Water Transportation in Mediaeval Times

一个国家的水陆交通与商业发展紧密联系在一起,交通越便利,商业越发达。中古时期英国的交通状况如何?目前在国内史学界还是一个冷僻的课题。要研究中古时期英国的商业经济,必然涉及到交通问题。根据近年来英国出版的相关文史资料,具体考察了12～14世纪期间英国的水陆通行及商业运输情况,提出了以下两点看法:一、由主干道即“王家大道”、地方道路和乡村小道所组成的陆路系统已经比较完整,可以保证商业运输的需要;大规模的陆路运输不仅可以有效组织,而且出现了比较高级的“公共运输人”。二、通航水路相当发达,尤其在东部地区水运河道密布,城市和大的集市都非常繁荣;水运价格也比陆运低得多。不可否认,以现代人的标准看,当时的水陆交通还障碍重重,运输效率不高。但是,这个时期英国的水陆交通条件已经为商业运输提供了必要保障。

A country＇s water and land transportation is deeply connected with its commerce development. The more convenient the traffic , the more developed its commerce. It＇s still a desolate task in domestic history circle how Bristish transportation really was in Mediaeval Times. To investigate British business economy , there comes down to the transportation problem. According to the recent literary history data published in Britain, this paper concretely review the water transportation and business conveyance during 12 - 14century. This paper presents two points： First, the transportation system consists of main road, local and country road provided commerce transportation; large-scale landway transportation can be organized effectively , and the ＂Public Transportationer＂ came into being . Second , Waterways were very well developed, especially in the eastern part where there densely distributed watercourses and canals, and prosperous cities and big markets; also the price for water transportation was much lower than that of land transportation. Undoubtedly , according to the modern standard, the water and land transportation at that time still had many obstacles. However , it still guaranteed the transportation of business.