Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

About the Book

A classic of political economy that traces the influence of religious thought on capitalism

In one of the true classics of twentieth-century political economy, R. H. Tawney investigates the way religion has moulded social and economic practice. He tracks the influence of religious thought on capitalist economy and ideology since the Middle Ages, shedding light on the question of why Christianity continues to exert a unique role in the marketplace. The book offers an incisive analysis of the morals and mores of contemporary Western culture.

In tough, muscular, richly varied prose, Tawney tells an absorbing and meaningful story. Today, the dividing line between the spheres of religion and the secular is shifting, and Religion and the Rise of Capitalism is more pertinent than ever.
Read more
Close

Praise for Religion and the Rise of Capitalism

“It is difficult to disagree with the humanity of his arguments.”
—Raymond Williams

“Tawney [is] part of a tradition that gives us hope and vitality, and charts a way out of the trap of orthodoxy. Now is the time for that tradition to be rediscovered.”
—Jon Cruddas, New Statesman

“Often admired but now rarely consulted, Tawney’s work deserves a spiritual revival.”
—Eugene McCarraher

“A delightful piece of literature, as well as an authentic and scholarly treatise.”
Atlantic Monthly
Read more
Close

Verso World History Series

Latin
The Panthay Rebellion
Nevertheless
Connected History
Religion and the Rise of Capitalism
The Agrarian Sociology of Ancient Civilizations
Passages from Antiquity to Feudalism
Lineages of the Absolutist State
History of the Paris Commune of 1871
Why Did the Heavens Not Darken?
View more

About the Author

R. H. Tawney
Decorative Carat

By clicking submit, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

Random House Publishing Group