A History of Capitalism

If there's one thing that's more capitalist than anything else, it's the corporation.  In this episode, we explore the modern corporation's origins in Dutch & English colonialism, the spice trade, gun-running, and more! Merchant Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1600-1900 by Stephen R. Brown The Dutch Overseas Empire, 1600-1800 by Pieter C. Emmer and Jos J.L. Gommans For Profit: A History...

Moving and storing information has always been vital to economic development.  In this episode, we will turn to the story of the printing press, why it triggered the information revolution which was essential to capitalism's rise, and how it transformed economics from the ground up just as the Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish were laying the foundations of global empires. The Erotic Engine:...

Capitalism, at its outset, was a very violent and warlike affair.  In this episode, we will explore the historical model known as war capitalism and how military might was essential for granting European merchants access to the markets of Asia. Empire of Cotton: A Global History by Sven Beckert The Dutch Overseas Empire, 1600-1800 by Pieter C. Emmer and Jos J.L. Gommans Pirate Nests and the Rise o...

Spain's new colonial empire endowed Europe's rising monarchy with an unprecedented economic windfall. In this episode, we find out how silver and other goods extracted from the Americas made the first truly worldwide economy possible at the cost of Spain's prosperity and long-term stability. Works Cited: “Megadrought and Megadeath in 16th Century Mexico”, by Rodolfo Acuna-Soto, David W. Stahle, Ma...

CW: Anti-Semitic violence and the enslavement and genocide of indigenous peoples in the Americas, mention of torture, mutilation, and suicide. In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue or at least that's how the rhyme goes. It's time to dive in to Columbus' place in the history of capitalism, why Spain and Portugal were at the forefront of European maritime expeditions, and how they carved up the wor...

Its now time to kick the story of capitalism off with a bang. Gunpowder did more than just change warfare. Its production and use completely transformed society, governance, and gave rise to one of the first modern industries. Nothing shows these changes better than the Ottoman Turks, the world's first gunpowder empire, and their 1453 CE conquest of Constantinople. Battles of the Medieval World by...

Money. You can't live without it these days. In this episode we find out how money rose to its dominant position by the year 1400 CE, how money's limitations created banking, and how banking developed during these early years. Episode Bibliography: Money and Credit in Indian History from Early Medieval Times edited by Amiya Kumar Bagchi The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World by Nial...

Trade across three continents was not an easy task. In this episode we meet the merchants and markets who made goods move through the eyes of Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta. Episode Bibliography: Oxford History of Medieval Europe by George Holmes Re-Orient: Global Economy in the Asian Age by Andre Gunder-Frank A History of Islamic Civilizations by Ira M. Lapidus The Rihla by Ibn Battuta The Travels of...

Welcome to the beginning of our journey! This episode introduces you to the world where modern capitalism first began. Join us for a tour of Europe after the Black Death, the Middle East on the eve of Ottoman rule, India in upheaval, China approaching its zenith, and Africa's connections to the larger world. Episode Bibliography: Empire of Cotton: A New History of Global Capitalism by Sven Beckert...

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