Capitalism is an economic phenomenon with enormous social, political, and cultural dimensions, which has permeated every corner of the planet today. It is a phenomenon associated with impressive achievements, but also with acute crises, contradictions, inequalities, and failures. It is also a phenomenon with deep historical roots, which has engaged thinkers such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Joseph Schumpeter, among others.

In this dense, concise, and highly accessible book, author Jurgen Kocka, one of the most important experts in the field of social history today, analyzes capitalism in its historical evolution, from its medieval origins to the 2008 crisis - always in relation to the social, political, and cultural context of each era. Based on extensive historical and theoretical research, it uniquely describes the journey from the commercial capitalism of the Arabs, China, and pre-modern Europe to the industrialization of the 19th and 20th centuries, and to the globalized financial capitalism of our days, highlighting the catalytic role that this complex phenomenon has played in shaping the modern world.