Lecture by Sven Beckert, Laid Bell professor of history in Harvard University, with the topic of "Empire of Cotton: The Global Origins of Modern Capitalism"
This lecture is part of the seminar meetings on "Global economic history and history of the seas", and can be attended via internet.
On Wednesday 11 May, 8.30 p.m., in the Institute for Mediterranean Studies (Melissinou and Nikiforou Foka 130, Rethymno), Sven Beckert will give a lecture on «Empire of Cotton The Global Origins of Modern Capitalism». Sven Beckert is Laid Bell professor of history in Harvard University, where he teaches American and global history. He is coordinator of the Weatherhead Initiative on Global History and the Program on the Study of Capitalism. His prizewinning book Empire of cotton is going to be published in Greek by Cretan University Press within May.
In a remarkably brief period, European entrepreneurs and powerful politicians recast the world’s most significant manufacturing industry, combining imperial expansion and slave labor with new machines and wage workers to make and remake global capitalism. 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. Sven 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.
It is possible to watch online via Zoom as well as live streaming from the following links.