The Cambridge history of Capitalism Volume I. The Rise of Capitalism: From Ancient Origins to 1848

Modern Economic Growth, Defined As A Sustained Rise In Per Capita Income (kuznets 1966c001-025), Has Created Higher Levels Of Prosperity For Many More People On Earth Than Was Ever Thought Possible Before It Began. Moreover, It Began Not So Very Long Ago, Perhaps As Late As The Middle Of The Nineteenth Century And Certainly Not Before The End Of The Seventeenth Century-- Vol. 1 The Rise Of Capitalism: From Ancient Origins To 1848. Vol. 2 The Spreed Of Capitalism: From 1848 To The Present. Edited By Larry Neal And Jeffrey G. Williamson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The first volume of The Cambridge History of Capitalism provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of capitalism from its earliest beginnings. Starting with its distant origins in ancient Babylon, successive chapters trace progression up to the 'Promised Land' of capitalism in America. Adopting a wide geographical coverage and comparative perspective, the international team of authors discuss the contributions of Greek, Roman, and Asian civilizations to the development of capitalism, as well as the Chinese, Indian and Arab empires. They determine what features of modern capitalism were present at each time and place, and why the various precursors of capitalism did not survive. Looking at the eventual success of medieval Europe and the examples of city-states in northern Italy and the Low Countries, the authors address how British mercantilism led to European imitations and American successes, and ultimately, how capitalism became global "Modern economic growth, defined as a sustained rise in per capita income (Kuznets 1966C001-025), has created higher levels of prosperity for many more people on earth than was ever thought possible before it began. Moreover, it began not so very long ago, perhaps as late as the middle of the nineteenth century and certainly not before the end of the seventeenth century"-- Provided by publisher The first volume of The Cambridge History of Capitalism delves deep into the historical roots of capitalism to provide a definitive account of its evolution. Adopting a wide geographical coverage and comparative perspective, a range of expert scholars trace capitalism's development from distant origins in ancient Babylon to modern economic growth.