The Origin Of Capitalism Av Ellen Meiksins Wood

<b><b>An expanded edition of the classic study on the history of capitalism—“a must read” for students of political theory and anyone interested in economic thought (<i>Choice</i>)</b><br><br><i>How did the dynamic economic system we know as capitalism develop among the peasants and lords of feudal Europe?</i></b><br><br>In <i>The Origin of Capitalism</i>, a now-classic work of history, Ellen Meiksins Wood offers readers a clear and accessible introduction to the theories and debates concerning the birth of capitalism, imperialism, and the modern nation state. Capitalism is not a natural and inevitable consequence of human nature, nor simply an extension of age-old practices of trade and commerce. Rather, it is a late and localized product of very specific historical conditions, which required great transformations in social relations and in the relationship between humans and nature.<br><br>This new edition is substantially revised and expanded, with extensive new material on imperialism, anti-Eurocentric history, capitalism and the nation-state, and the differences between capitalism and non-capitalist commerce. The author traces links between the origin of capitalism and contemporary conditions such as ‘globalization’, ecological degradation, and the current agricultural crisis.