Capitalism: In-Depth

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - How Capitalism Conquered the World
09:08 - Chapter One: The Feudal Order
26:11 - Chapter Two: New Worlds
43:10 - Chapter Three: First and False Starts
51:41 - Chapter Four: The Industrial Revolution
01:16:02 - Chapter Five: The Shape of the Capitalist Machine
01:30:20 - Chapter Six: Why England
02:15:32 - Chapter Seven: The Age of Capital: England's Supremacy
02:37:18 - Chapter Eight: The Iron Boot and the Dispossessed
03:00:49 - Chapter Nine: Globalization
03:17:26 - Chapter Ten: Capitalism's Empires
03:30:20 - Chapter Eleven: The American Rise
04:12:48 - Chapter Twelve: Crash: Build Up to the Apocalypse
04:22:25 - Chapter Thirteen: Apocalypse: World War
04:47:58 - Chapter Fourteen: Conclusions

►Then & Now is FAN-FUNDED!

Support me on Patreon and pledge as little as $1 per video:

Or send me a one-off tip of any amount and help me make more videos:

Sign up for the Newsletter to get digestible concise summaries:

Subscribe to the podcast:

[Supermiez]

You could have gone a bit more in depth…

[levelup]

I rarely comment on YouTube but I seriously can’t believe this is free, this is a legacy video

[tauseefwaquar]

This is absolutely insane. The fact that it is available on Youtube for free blows my mind. Sir, you’re doing a great service to humanity through your Youtube channel.

[MagicNumberArg]

I'm halfway through, my mind boils at the thought of how much work went into this essay.

[Szaam]

This channel's magnum opus. A perfect representation of what YouTube can be at its best. The only thing I won't accept is Lancashire being described as part of the Midlands.

[Heimatlosigkeit]

It really must be stated how much of an achievement this video is; a free, 5+ hour documentary produced by a crowd-funded artist which explains “the water we swim in” from a historical perspective which is bolstered by philosophical reflections. The sheer amount of organization this must have taken is mind-boggling to me, as someone who wants to be involved in a similar way in public education. If we navigate the trials of the 21st century, I think historians will look back and recognize videos like these as a turning point.

[politicaltroll]

When mom says one more video before bed

[frusia]

What people don't realise is that during the decades after WW2 Western Europe offered a good life to the average citizen BECAUSE of communism in Eastern Europe. Communists introduced free education and free healthcare for all, the dignity of the worker grew immensely. Western European ruling classes were terrified of the revolution spreading into their countries. So they made sure that their people not only got what people had in socialist countries, but even more than that. That wasn't because the ruling classes became less selfish, but because they were scared. And the moment communism was defeated in Europe, the process of rolling back the rights and material assets has begun.

[IntellectCorner]

𝓣𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓶𝓹𝓼 𝓫𝔂 𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓒𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓻

0:00 - Introduction to Capitalism
1:40 - The Puzzle of Capitalism's Emergence
3:03 - The Rapid Transformation of Britain
4:32 - The Impact of Industrial Growth on Everyday Life
6:09 - The Conquering Bourgeois and Historical Context
7:30 - Analyzing Capitalism's Evolution and Impact
9:55 - Life in the Feudal World
11:25 - The Agricultural Majority and Feudal Life
13:35 - The Complexity of Feudal Obligations
15:00 - Absolutist France and Feudal Structures
16:34 - The Role of the Church and Nobility
18:44 - The Ever-Present Threat of Famine
20:13 - Critiques of Pre-Industrial Life
21:38 - The Constraints of Feudal Life
23:51 - The Cyclical Nature of Feudal Existence
25:22 - The Distrust of Wealth and Credit in Christian Culture
26:02 - The Dawn of a New Era
26:52 - The Impact of the New World's Discovery
28:27 - The Renaissance and the Spread of New Ideas
29:13 - First Movers in the Age of Exploration
30:46 - The Contagious Nature of New Discoveries
32:14 - The Power of Imagination and New Desires
38:12 - The Reformation and Its Impact on Society
40:34 - The Scientific Revolution and Its Influence
42:45 - Theories on the Causes of the Industrial Revolution
44:18 - The Role of Early Capitalist Ventures
46:31 - The Italian City-States and Their Economic Structure
48:28 - The Dutch Republic and the Joint Stock Company
50:30 - The Limitations of Early Capitalist Models
52:03 - The Significance of the Steam Engine
55:04 - The Impact of Newcomen's Steam Engine
57:59 - The Growth of Coal Usage in Britain
58:47 - James Watt's Improvements to the Steam Engine
1:00:15 - The Revolution in Metallurgy
1:01:48 - The Blueprint of Modern Industry
1:03:12 - The Convergence of Innovation in Clothing
1:05:15 - Richard Arkwright's Water Frame and Its Impact
1:06:41 - The Growth of the Cotton Trade
1:08:45 - The Culture of Improvement and Efficiency
1:09:30 - The Rise of Chemical Works
1:10:17 - The Advent of Railways
1:12:46 - The Interconnected System of Innovations
1:13:38 - The Workshop of the World
1:15:56 - Defining Capitalism and Its Components
1:18:24 - The Debate on the Origins of Capital
1:20:32 - The Role of Markets and Wage Labor
1:23:28 - The Transition Debate and Its Complexities
1:25:22 - Adam Smith's View on Capitalism
1:27:42 - The Critique of Smith's Naturalistic View
1:29:47 - The Importance of Specific Historical Context
1:30:39 - The Role of Agriculture and Enclosure
1:33:05 - The Uniqueness of the English Context
1:35:17 - The English Revolution and Its Impact
1:37:27 - The Changing Structure of the English Nobility
1:38:53 - The Shift from Political to Economic Incentives
1:40:34 - The Culture of Improvement in England
1:42:45 - The Contrast Between Feudalism and Capitalism
1:44:30 - The Impact of New World Foods and Materials
1:46:42 - The Shift from Agricultural to Industrial Focus
1:48:13 - The Role of Efficiency and Productivity
1:50:32 - The Culture of Science and Innovation
1:52:03 - The Significance of Patents
1:56:04 - The Statute of Monopolies and Its Implications
1:59:59 - Newcomen's Engine and the Culture of Innovation
2:03:35 - The Impact of Capitalism on Global Trade
2:06:40 - Capitalism as a Force of Both Creation and Destruction
2:08:32 - The Interplay of Economics and Culture
2:10:57 - Capitalism's Global Expansion
2:14:18 - The Dark Side of Industrial Progress
2:16:30 - The Contradictions of Early Capitalism
2:18:03 - The Growth of British Power and Influence
2:20:14 - The Rise of Liberalism and Its Tensions
2:22:28 - The Shift from Individual to Corporate Power
2:24:12 - The Emergence of Modern Corporate Structures
2:26:21 - The Influence of Investment Banking
2:28:31 - The Growth of Bureaucracy and Management
2:30:08 - Social Darwinism and Its Impact on Capitalism
2:32:37 - The Great Exhibition of 1851 as a Symbol of Progress
2:34:38 - Critiques of Capitalism and Industrial Society
2:36:54 - The Amplification of Global Inequalities
2:38:20 - The Debate Over the Benefits of Industrialization
2:42:18 - The Rise of Labor Movements and Social Unrest
2:46:32 - The Complexity of Assessing Progress
2:48:41 - The Shift Towards Regulation and Reform
2:50:32 - The Interplay of Innovation, Efficiency, and Social Change
2:52:28 - The Growth of Nationalism and Its Impact on Global Relations
2:53:46 - Capitalism and the Buildup to World War I
2:56:33 - The Role of Imperialism and Global Markets
3:02:14 - The Impact of Globalization on World Dynamics
3:06:06 - The Speed of Technological and Economic Change
3:07:36 - The Development of Telegraph and Communication Technologies
3:08:53 - The Movement of People and the Growth of Cities
3:11:25 - Bridging the Mississippi: A Symbol of Progress
3:12:46 - The Expansion of International Trade
3:13:34 - The Dark Side of Globalization and Colonialism
3:15:49 - The Impact of Capitalism on India
3:17:32 - The Consequences of Capitalist Expansion
3:18:20 - The Rise of American Industrial Power
3:20:14 - The Growth of German Industrial Might
3:22:37 - The Interconnectedness of Global Crises
3:24:18 - The Great Depression and Its Global Impact
3:26:40 - The Role of Speculation and Market Bubbles
3:30:26 - The Interwar Period and the Rise of New Ideologies
3:35:48 - The Post-War Triumph of Capitalism
3:37:55 - The Complexity of Defining and Assessing Capitalism
3:43:39 - The Importance of Historical Context and Nuance
3:48:41 - Freedom as a Central Value in the Capitalist Debate
3:51:27 - The Malleability and Evolution of Capitalism
3:54:17 - The Tension Between Individual Freedom and Collective Well-Being
3:56:33 - The Role of Culture in Shaping Economic Systems
3:58:07 - The Shift from Individual to Corporate Dominance
4:03:39 - The Rise of Mass Production and Consumer Culture
4:06:29 - Ford's Factory as a Symbol of Industrial Efficiency
4:08:53 - The Interplay of Innovation, Efficiency, and Social Change
4:12:45 - The Dark Side of Progress: Inequality and Social Unrest
4:14:18 - The Global Impact of Economic Crises
4:17:14 - The Role of Confidence and Speculation in Market Dynamics
4:20:50 - The Aftermath of the Great Depression and World War I
4:22:28 - The Interconnection of Global Economic and Political Forces
4:25:43 - Germany's Rise and the Shift in Global Power
4:30:42 - The Buildup to World War I and Its Causes
4:33:41 - The Role of Nationalism and Imperialism
4:38:50 - Capitalism as a Factor in Global Conflicts
4:41:13 - The Interplay of Economic, Political, and Social Forces
4:43:39 - The Legacy of Social Darwinism
4:46:16 - Capitalism's Resilience and Transformation
4:47:51 - Conclusion: Reflecting on Capitalism's Conquest and Future

[kanojo]

Holy shit is this all new? I've been noticing a trend of compilations as channels are realising there's money to be dug out of their back catalogue. But this isn't a compilation? This is an incredible amount of work, I hope you feel it's worth it. I am certainly grateful.

[leftyforrester]

I'm suddenly in the mood for a five hour, eleven minute, and thirty-eight second road trip

[CirclingDuck]

3:39:49 Cattle has always been 'capital'. That's where the word 'capital' first came from. It was a measure of the heads of cattle (or 'caput' in latin). The word 'cattle' is itself cognate with 'capital' via a different route.

[AngieMylo]

It’s honestly mind-blowing that such a gem of content is available for free on YouTube! Thank you so much for the hard work, dedication, and effort you pour into creating these videos—it truly means the world!

[ateuinforma]

Brilliant job. Congratulations from Brazil!

[egorpanfilov]

Honestly, I like the trend of videos and podcasts getting several hours long. 🙏 Thank you for this extensive essay and the video, it has been a joy to watch! 👏 Besh wishes for the New Year!

[Mruta]

This surely is the _War and Peace, Divine Comedy_ and _Mona Lisa_ of this channel. What an amazing essay! I've been listening to it while working but it deserves another, full-attention viewing.

[simoonpereez]

First time commenting on a video on YouTube. The work behind this video is just to exceptional to leave without remarking it on the comment section. I really hope to the guts that you feel fullfilled with the work you do and that you have put into this magnificent piece of content, because I do know that it doesn’t pay off, because yes, this amount of work, in this era, it just doesn’t pay off, which makes this even more remarkable. Thank you.

[DreQueary]

I swear your content is WAY to good to just be a YouTube video. Your Marx video was so remarkably well done. I absolutely cannot wait to watch this later.

[bigredcupproductions]

This is a masterclass in gripping essay writing and the epitome of what a YouTube video can be. You have outdone yourself with this effort and I cannot thank you enough for putting in so much time and effort into video after video. I am simply stunned at how not a minute of this 5 hour long behemoth was superfluous, how every chapter led into the next making me ask questions that you would answer just half an hour later. I can't stress how underrated your channel is, you've provided us all with an education in history, philosophy and sociology in a way not many creators have the will nor ability to do. Much love and respect, I cannot wait to earn more than barely enough to simply scrape by so I can support you properly through your Patreon.

[Whayles]

Started watching Then, and Now I’m still watching.
Great video mate, love the depth and quality throughout the whole video.