Slavery helped finance the Industrial Revolution in England. Plantation owners; shipbuilders; and merchants connected with the slave trade accumulated vast fortunes that established banks and heavy industry in Europe and expanded the reach of capitalism worldwide. Eric Williams advanced these powerful ideas in Capitalism and Slavery; published in 1944. Years ahead of its time; his profound critique became the foundation for studies of imperialism and economic development. Binding an economic view of history with strong moral argument; Williams's study of the role of slavery in financing the Industrial Revolution refuted traditional ideas of economic and moral progress and firmly established the centrality of the African slave trade in European economic development. He also showed that mature industrial capitalism in turn helped destroy the slave system. Establishing the exploitation of commercial capitalism and its link to racial attitudes; Williams employed a historicist vision that set the tone for future studies. In a new introduction; Colin Palmer assesses the lasting impact of Williams's groundbreaking work and analyzes the heated scholarly debates it generated when it first appeared.
#1956550 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2012-01-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.05 x 6.54 x 9.54l; 1.43 #File Name: 0807835021360 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Excellent ReadingBy Dee DeeThis book should be read by all who would like to get a better understanding about war. I highly recommend this book2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. PoignantBy Joseph UrbanoMeticulously researched and well presented. This work give the reader a clear picture not only of African American History but the history of the United States. This book is a must read for the historian who has an interest in the overall picture of our nation at war.
