The Origins of Capitalism and the "Rise of the West"

Contents

C O N T E N T S Acknowledgments vii Introduction ix chapter one: Perspectives on the Origins of Merchant Capitalism in Europe 1 Orthodox Marxism 1 Brennerism (or the Brenner Approach) 2 The Modernization Theory 7 World-Systems Analysis 11 Temporal Predisposition 12 Spatial Predisposition 30 The Inter-City-State System of the Middle Ages 31 Tentative Conclusions 42 chapter two: The Political Economies of China and Europe Compared 47 The Chinese Socioeconomic Revolution during the Sung Dynasty (circa 900–1280) 48 China and the Mongols 55 Ming China and Europe: Divergent Paths 60 Conclusions vis-á-vis European Capitalism 77 vi CONTENTS chapter three: The Political Economies of South Asia and Europe Compared 86 Trade and Commodity Flows in the South Asian Region 86 States and State Structures in South Asia 93 The Strategies of Elites in South Asia and Europe 102 The Impact of the Perilous Frontier 112 Conclusions 121 chapter four: The Political Economies of Western Europe and Northern Africa Compared 125 Northern Africa and the Sudanic States (circa 1200–1500) 125 North African Cities, States, and the Balance of Power in the Mediterranean 136 Conclusions 143 chapter five: Conclusion: Was the Western-European City-State in the Middle Ages a European Miracle? 154 Bibliography 163 Index 237 ...