Unisa Press
Capitalism & Slavery
| Author: | Eric Williams |
|---|---|
| Published: | January 01, 2010 |
| ISBN: | 978-1-86888-606-7 |
| Number of pages: | 306 |
| Contact: |
To buy the book contact UNISA Press on +27 (0) 12 429 3515/3448 |
| How to buy: |
To buy the book contact UNISA Press on +27 (0) 12 429 3515/3448 |
| This book is not available in electronic format |
|---|
About the book
First published in 1944 and years ahead of its time, this book became the foundation for many future studies of imperialism and economic development. Binding an economic view of history with strong moral argument, Williams’ 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.
Collin Palmer assesses the lasting impact of Williams’ groundbreaking work and analyses the heated scholarly debate it generated when it first appeared.
The late Eric Williams was Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1956 until his death in 1981.