THE INTERNATIONAL BOURGEOISIE

The sheer number and diversity of hawkers, shopkeepers and other relatively small-scale businessmen in London point to a unique aspect of its history. An examination of more established members of the middle classes points to another unique aspect in the history of London in the form of the centrality of commerce and finance, which have attracted people from all over the world, especially continental Europe and, more recently, from further afield, to the City of London. The international bourgeoisie played a major role in the history of London even before it rose to prominence as the financial capital of the