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An Economic History of the World since 1400 cover art

An Economic History of the World since 1400

By: Donald J. Harreld,The Great Courses
Narrated by: Donald J. Harreld
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Summary

Most of us have a limited understanding of the powerful role economics has played in shaping human civilization. This makes economic history - the study of how civilizations structured their environments to provide food, shelter, and material goods - a vital lens through which to think about how we arrived at our present, globalized moment.

Designed to fill a long-empty gap in how we think about modern history, these 48 lectures are a comprehensive journey through more than 600 years of economic history, from the medieval world to the 21st century. Aimed at the layperson with only a cursory understanding of the field, An Economic History of the World since 1400 reveals how economics has influenced (and been influenced by) historical events and trends, including the Black Death, the Age of Exploration, the Industrial Revolution, the European colonization of Africa, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the birth of personal computing. Professor Harreld has crafted a riveting, centuries-long story of power, glory, and ideology that reveals how, in step with history, economic ideas emerged, evolved, and thrived or died.

Along the way, you'll strengthen your understanding of a range of economic concepts, philosophies, trends, treaties, and organizations, including the mercantile system, Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, Marxist economics, African independence movements, and the formation of economic organizations including the European Union. You'll also consider provocative questions about the intersection of history and economics. What did the economies of Roosevelt's America and Hitler's Germany have in common? What does history tell us about how nations should dictate economic policy? Can we say that free trade is truly free?

Marvel at just how much we still have to learn about the economic forces that have dictated our past - and that will dictate our future.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLC

What listeners say about An Economic History of the World since 1400

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So "Europe is parochial" & every else is wondrous?

What would have made An Economic History of the World since 1400 better?

A neutral view of the world. This lecturer is a cultural Marxist and delighted at every instance in cultural self loathing. He should reflect on George Orwell's comments on the English intelligentsia and stealing for a poor box. Had he been present at the 1933 Oxford Union King of Country debate, he'd have voted in favour, to the delight of the enemies of freedom.

What could The Great Courses have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Just make it a history, not an indoctrination. If he doesn't like anglosphere exceptionalism he should just state it plainly, get over it, and avoid mixing the message all through the text.

How could the performance have been better?

Just focus on what happened and the ideas of the time.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from An Economic History of the World since 1400?

A camera close up on the author studying Cultural Marxism and his expressions of introspection.

Any additional comments?

Is this what passes for academia in 2016?

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62 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

buy, listen, learn.

very well researched, excellent presentation. and it does indeed has a scope of 600 years. I really recommend this book to people who want to understand history, other people and themselves, even, better.

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15 people found this helpful

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Superb narrative and intriguing perspectives

What made the experience of listening to An Economic History of the World since 1400 the most enjoyable?

The title could be misleading, because it is neither purely economics-based, nor is it correspondingly dry. Instead, it focusses on a range of technological developments that enhanced the economic advantages of different nation-states etc. at key points in history.

As a result, you're learning about exactly why the fortunes of nations were influenced by discoveries and innovations over hundreds of years.

There's a lot of wisdom in here, and even as an engineer, I found myself learning a lot about previous tech developments and appreciating how important they really were.

My favourite moment was the description of Germany's economy before the Nazi party started to gain power, truly fascinating - providing you don't already have the insight of course.

Whether you're in business, education, politics or needing to become well-rounded from any discipline such as economics, this is a must listen and is in my top three audiobooks. I doubt you'd get the broadness of perspective from studying economics alone, nor the same rigour from reading non-academic literature.

Additionally, the narrative is pitched correctly, it rarely gets tiring and maintains your attention. My acid test is can I maintain my attention whilst driving and this passes.

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14 people found this helpful

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I enjoyed this

obviously this can only scratch the surface of the vast subject it is trying to cover. but it was a great introduction and I will definitely look out for another great course

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6 people found this helpful

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  • WP
  • 30-08-17

Western European-centred, insights into other continents but complete lack of insights (& understanding) of Eastern Europe

Western European-centred, insights into other continents but complete lack of insights (& understanding) of Eastern Europe. For example lack of mentioning that Eastern European nations didn't have or used slaves. Authors is happy to say that Eastern Europe was slower with introducing changes in social structure or in industrialisation but completely forgot to mention that wealth of Western Europe was built on slavery. Another mistake about understanding Eastern Europe is explaining plague. Authors explain that it didn't spread into Bohemia due to geomorphology but doesn't mention that there was no Plague in Poland that is mostly flat and has many rivers so authors explanation that plague didn't reach Eastern Europe due to hilly terrain doesn't quite meet facts. Also Another fact that first democratic election took part in Poland in June 1989 and East Germans started to flee into Poland and only then East German couldn't stop the democracy wave and allowed in October for wall to fall. Polish Solidarity movement started the change in Eastern Europe, not fall of Berlin Wall. Again author completely miss the point.

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5 people found this helpful

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Really, really boring.

Somehow manages to make an interesting topic really really boring. I think it may be due to the narrator. He's very monotone and dull.

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5 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Quite interesting but narrator lets his personal views get in the way

This was so far so good in til we arrived at the 20th century, but then the author let his personal views take over. Apparently the television was not invented by John Logie Baird, but by someone I've never heard of.

I did find the explanation of the birth of the EU very interesting. I agree with the author that the failure of the UK to join in 1957 was the gravest error made by the UK since WW2 and the chapter on American exceptionism is also interesting as this is a viewpoint we don't see in Europe.

However I was expecting a less biased approach.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Exceptionally Read. Exceptionally Researched

Truly great. A well balanced, neuanced view. I trully understand the world so much more now. Even with the impressive length I was sad to get to the end! And the lecture notes are provided! Great great work.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • 22-06-20

Not for me

I wanted to try to step out of my comfort zone. But the narrator didn’t help. So I’m calling it quits on this one.

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2 people found this helpful

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Disappointing

Superficial overview of world history, with an economic slant but hardly an economic history. Unfortunately not terribly interesting and frankly sloppy in its approach to accuracy. The author seemed to mispronounce every name or place, which was also wearing.

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2 people found this helpful