Pioneers of Capitalism

“A FiveBooks Best Economic History Book of the Year”“An excellent book.”—Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution”[Prak and van Zanden] have provided a path forward for studying economic history that takes complexity seriously without letting it prevent us from getting to the important truths of economic history. One can only hope that more social and economic historians follow Prak and van Zanden’s path in the future.”—Samuel Gregg, Engelsberg Ideas”[Pioneers of Capitalism] will be the standard work on the topic for years and perhaps decades to come, as it offers a very well-written and powerful account of the rise and fall of the Dutch Republic in the medieval and early modern periods.”—Gijs Dreijer, Business History Review“

[Pioneers of Capitalism] surpasses the previous syntheses of Dutch capitalism by bringing it in line with recent developments in economic history… . Fascinating.

”—Bas Spliet, Journal of European Economic History ”[Pioneers of Capitalism] shows on every page exceptional erudition and wide command of the topic, an ability to adopt very long and wide perspectives, and great skill in providing tables and graphs that are straightforward and easy to take in at a glance but that tell a big story in a small space… . [B]rilliant, well written, and unmissable for anyone with an interest in economic and social history.”—Jonathan I. Israel, Journal of Modern History“Clearly written, concise, to the point and extremely insightful, Pioneers of Capitalism – The Netherlands 1000-1800, is a thorough examination.”—David Marx, David Marx Book Reviews

Maarten Prak is professor of social and economic history at Utrecht University. His books include Citizens without Nations: Urban Citizenship in Europe and the World, c. 1000-1789.

Jan Luiten van Zanden is professor of global economic history at Utrecht University. His books include The Strictures of Inheritance: The Dutch Economy in the Nineteenth Century.