The World Economy Since 600 BCE

Course Objectives

This course introduces students to the themes, issues and analytical frames for understanding the world economy since its emergence in the first millennium BCE. In addition to chronicling the development of this integrated set of economic links until it became fully global in the late eighteenth century, the course examines different theories of how and why our present capitalist order evolved and how it works in the present day. Beginning in the 1820s, it also examines movements seeking to overturn this hegemonic order that encompasses our world systems of trade and governance. A central question the course also treats is why there exists an uneven pattern of wealth and “development” around the world, not just in the present day but in prior economic orders.

Difficulty Level

This course’s lecture content requires no prior specialized knowledge and is based on general knowledge widely available to any high school graduate who keeps up with the news. The one challenge element of the course is the reading. Most of the reading is in the form of academic articles that are not very accessibly written. To accommodate this, questions are expected, welcomed and encouraged for those seeking basic clarifications of opaque language and occult terminology in anything they are asked to read for the course.

Texts

At the beginning of the course, students will receive a series of Dropbox links to download each of the videos and readings we will be discussing. This includes episodes of the TV series and two of the books as well as maps, book chapters, articles and other video content.

Class Schedule

We will be meeting twice a week on Zoom at 1:00pm Pacific Time on Monday and Thursday afternoons. Participants will also be subscribed to a Google group and a Facebook group to carry on discussion outside of class time.  In all, the class will have thirteen episodes.


Session
Lecture/Podcast Optional Readings
Thursday,

April 16th, 2020

The legacy of the KJV: nations and neighbours and the making of capitalism More 3-15
Monday,

April 20th, 2020

 

Ethnos, Hellenismos and the rise of empire in the Mediterranean Basin Rickman 261-75; Fulford 294-305; Fitzpatrick 27-54; Periplus
Thursday,

April 23rd, 2020

Sindbad’s World and pre-modern oceanic trade; Aristotelian economics, credit and the rise of quantification Freeman-Grenville 8-22;

Diaz 204-37;

Monday,

April 27th, 2020

 

The invention of race, plantations and mercantilism Adams 12-28; Colombijn 497-529; Lucassen 12-39
Thursday,

April 30th, 2020

Idealist vs. materialist explanations for the rise of the Anglosphere, coal vs. the Reformation Bentley 25-63
Monday,

May 4th, 2020

Pacific exploration, the “China Market,” Banana republics and “Open Door” imperialism Roden 511-34; Ravalli 181-91; Murase 273-97
Thursday,

May 7th, 2020

The unique history of the Southern Cone and the emergence of Dependency Theory and the “resource curse” Gunton 67-94; Frynas 527-46;  Teubal 460-88

 

Monday,

May 11th, 2020

The aftermath of the two “World Wars,” the Rise of Keynes, Stalin and the United Nations Order Soederberg 927-49; Subacchi 665-80
Thursday,

May 14th, 2020

Surveillance, “state magic” and rentierism: questions called-forth by paradoxes of Arab wealth and poverty Shambayati 307-31; Kuran 41-71; Hertog 539-63
Monday,

May 18th, 2020

Decolonization, Third World-ism, villagization and OPEC: successes and failures in challenging the UN Order Monson 113-30; Alden 43-58; Campbell 89-105
Thursday,

May 21st, 2020

Neoliberalism, austerity, “structural adjustment” and the post-1974 retrenchment of Euro-American power Agarwal 3129-36; Abouharb 233-62; Riddell 53-68
Monday,

May 25th, 2020

Lenin and Engels revisited: how financialization and intellectual property are breaking neoliberalism Lenin, TBA

Film: Position Among the Stars

Thursday,

May 28th, 2020

Continuity and change: rising temperatures and authoritarianism in historical perspective Ould-Mey 463-84; Phillips 3-30

The prescribed dosage according to your tolerance power can work in order to rectify your disorder and can also protect him from experiencing any adverse drug effects like dizziness, joint pain, acquisition de viagra Learn More Here nausea, diarrhea, less urination, weakness, uneven heart beat or sneezing you should consult your doctor about the consumption frequency and measure.This drug is potentially capable from each angle to provide its users with. Men due to various reasons like psychological and physical issues lack sexual energy many a times therefore those who want to bring their sex life back to life. get cialis If you are not sure viagra cialis for sale about the nitrates and taking a medicine containing nitrates consult with your doctor. So, the company and the physician make their lot cialis tabs by selling the medicine and now the patent is over.