Hist of Capitalism Econ Life

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course will explore recent transnational readings in the emerging, new economic history, which has at different moments been termed "the economic turn," the "history of capitalism," or the "history of economic life." Focusing primarily on recent books, especially on first monographs by emerging scholars in the field, this course will grapple with a variety of methodological and practical questions, such as: What is the history of capitalism? What are its origins, and where does it converge with/diverge from more traditional histories of empire, labor, and business? Is "capitalism" always a useful category of historical analysis, or is it more useful to speak in terms of "economic life" or "behavior"? What kinds of analytical, archival, and practical skills characterize projects in this field, and what are their limitations? The goal of the course is for students to think about the scope and methodologies of the "new" economic history and how/whether these skills can be applied to their own work.