The dynamics of development of сraft in St. Petersburg in 18th century

The subject of this article is the dynamics of craft production’s development in Saint Petersburg during protoindustrialisation in the 18th century. In this period, craft production in the capital experienced highs, lows, sharp competition, and contradictory changes. At the basis of the urban economy even after the emergence of manufactures, craft production was the fundamental supplier of food products, clothes, shoes, and domestic utensils. Increased demand for «European» goods facilitated the borrowing, development, and support of new technical standards, which gave the impetus for the introduction and evolution of new technologies. Guilds were a new form of an old institution in Russia’s «European capital», as it was impossible to develop a replacement that better fit the organisation of trade education as a means to structuring and preparing a professional workforce. The article shows that, despite a very slow start, the guilds became engines of development for urban craft production, especially after the township reforms of 1785.