Includes bibliographical references (pages 312-336) and index.

The conquest of the Americas inaugurated the slow accumulation of resources and the imperceptible structural transformations that culminated in the Industrial Revolution. From that moment on, capitalism grew and expanded with a dynamism and adaptability that are now all too familiar, profiting from wars and even managing to rebound after a series of devastating economic crises. In this highly-anticipated updated edition, Michel Beaud extends one of the major strengths of the original: the interweaving of social, political, and economic factors in the context of history. At the same time, his analysis provides a realistic and thorough examination of the developments of capitalism in the last twenty years, including globalization, the accelerating speed of capital transfer, and the collapse of the Soviet empire and the subsequent absorption of its population into the world market. This new edition also offers a completely revised format that integrates diagrams and flowcharts not previously available in the English-language edition. -- From publisher's description.

Translated from the French.

SACFinal081324