The origin of capitalism
by Ellen Meiksins Wood · first published 1999
4mentions
3recommended by
4HN commenters
2018–2026first – last mentioned
75% recommend25% neutral
"In The Origin of Capitalism, Ellen Meiksins Wood challenges most existing accounts of capitalism's origins, arguing that they fail to recognize its distinctive attributes as a social system by making its emergence seem natural and inevitable."--BOOK JACKET. "Only with a proper understanding of capitalism's beginning, Wood holds, can we imagine the possibility of it ending."--BOOK JACKET.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Origin of Capitalism -- Ellen Meiksins Wood . Basically, a brief but compelling argument that claims that not only is capitalism not inevitable, but just like every system before it it was held in place initially only…
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗…a very common and well established narrative that capitalism arose from the development of a merchant class but Ellen Meiksins Wood makes a pretty good case for an agrarian origin to capitalism in The Origin of Capitalism. She argues that the roots are instead a combination land rental and the reliance on waged labour IIRC. If the subject is of interest to you I recommend you check it out.
on “Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master: The Medieval Guild (2018)” ↗…relations. But, it sounds like you are really interested in this subject. If you want to read a much more cited and intelligent opposition to what you're proposing, I recommend Ellen Meiksins Wood "The Origin of Capitalism," historical analysis of capitalism emerging around specific property relations. Or Karl Polanyi "The Great Transformation" which discusses how though ancient markets existed, these are distinct from…
on “We've made the world too complicated” ↗…in your studies? I'm obviously not a fan of ethnonationalism, but they seem to be a collectivist arrangement akin to your brief on farmers in America. As for books to recommend, I'm just finishing The Origin of Capitalism by Ellen Meiksins Wood, but that's more of a historical analysis of the differences between French and English agrarian land ownership and how that led to capitalism in England but not France (not immediately,…
on “A Man Who Broke Capitalism – Did Jack Welch Destroy Corporate America?” ↗