Capitalism and Slavery, Eric Williams
Capitalism and Slavery, Eric Williams
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Capitalism and Slavery
Third Edition

Author: Eric Williams, William Darity, Jr.

Narrator: Bill Andrew Quinn

Unabridged: 9 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/01/2021

Synopsis

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.

William A. Darity Jr.'s new foreword highlights Williams's insights for a new generation, and Colin Palmer's introduction assesses the lasting impact of Williams's groundbreaking work and analyzes the heated scholarly debates it generated when it first appeared.

About Eric Williams

Eric Williams (1911-1981) served as the first prime minister of independent Trinidad and Tobago beginning in 1962 until his death. Prior to entering politics, he was a professor of social and political science at Howard University.

Reviews

Goodreads review by George

You will hear it often said that British West Indian (BWI) slavery was ended because it was no longer profitable for the slave owners. That assertion always seemed paradoxical to me. Eric Williams explains in a logical, dispassionate and cogent manner the real truths, which are this: 1) BWI slavery w......more

Goodreads review by David

Slavery was integral to the early development of capitalism, following the period of primitive accumulation of capital. The rise of industrial capitalism would not have been possible without the profits derived from slavery and the slave trade. Williams does a superb job of demonstrating how slavery......more

Goodreads review by Matthew Ted

65th book of 2022. Slavery would be killed by kindness. As Williams says in his conclusion, the 'title 'British Capitalism and Slavery'' would be 'pedantically more accurate', but the characteristics of slavery were universal. A tough read, extremely dense and full of so much information that I do......more

Goodreads review by Morgan

Awesome scholarship. It makes ONE point EXTREMELY clear. Colonialism was BIG BIG empire making scale MONEY. Slavery was the MOST important piece. No slavery, no colonialism, and capitalism can't get off the launchpad. Slavery was rationalized by the advent of modern racism. Where Black Africans were......more

Goodreads review by JRT

“The capitalists had first encouraged West Indian slavery and then helped to destroy it. When British capitalism depended on the West Indies, they ignored slavery or defended it. When British capitalism found the West Indian monopoly a nuisance, they destroyed West Indian slavery as the first step i......more

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