ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEARWINNER OF THE BANCROFT PRIZEPULITZER PRIZE FINALISTThe epic story of the rise and fall of the empire of cotton; its centrality to the world economy; and its making and remaking of global capitalism. Cotton is so ubiquitous as to be almost invisible; yet understanding its history is key to understanding the origins of modern capitalism. Sven Beckert’s rich; fascinating book tells the story of how; in a remarkably brief period; European entrepreneurs and powerful statesmen recast the world’s most significant manufacturing industry; combining imperial expansion and slave labor with new machines and wage workers to change the world. Here is the story of how; beginning well before the advent of machine production in the 1780s; these men captured ancient trades and skills in Asia; and combined them with the expropriation of lands in the Americas and the enslavement of African workers to crucially reshape the disparate realms of cotton that had existed for millennia; and how industrial capitalism gave birth to an empire; and how this force transformed the world.The empire of cotton was; from the beginning; a fulcrum of constant global struggle between slaves and planters; merchants and statesmen; workers and factory owners. Beckert makes clear how these forces ushered in the world of modern capitalism; including the vast wealth and disturbing inequalities that are with us today. The result is a book as unsettling as it is enlightening: a book that brilliantly weaves together the story of cotton with how the present global world came to exist.
#187733 in Books Ronald Segal 2002-02-09 2002-02-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .65 x 5.50l; .83 #File Name: 0374527970288 pagesISBN13: 9780374527976Condition: NewNotes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. This was conceptually interesting; but the writing was dullBy Leib Gershon MitchellIt's a history book; and I guess that it can't be concerned with trying to cobble an argument about *why* things happened as much as providing actual names and dates to make the history. And by that definition; this is definitely a history book.It's also understandable that since this is a book that is written in a field where very little has been published; the author cannot take arguments that are already familiar and go into in-depth analysis (that could be something like the done-to-death discussion of the Catholic Church's role in the Dark Ages or something of that sort).There is some interesting discussion of the morons in the Nation of Islam and how they came to be (it's quite fitting considering that their idiocy has been their greatest cohesive strength). That makes the whole book worth it.It's worth a secondhand purchase.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Nicely done.By Baron BThankyou for that. Nicely done.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A very good historical account of a subject all too neglectedBy mjchael falsiaA very good historical account of a subject all too neglected! In an age where the West is made out to be the worst culprit in the insidious African slave trade the focus finally comes upon Islams evil role in this heinous and insidious practice? This is a very needed supplement to get a full and balanced account of one of the great evils in human history! Well written and documented. No serious historian should be without a copy.
