Empire of Cotton cover

Empire of Cotton

9 min read 12 min listen Narrated by Sophie
Read Listen

Read this summary in any language — built-in translation in the reader.

What’s it about?

A monumental history revealing how cotton, not coal or iron, drove global capitalism—built on slavery, colonialism, and violent exploitation that still shapes our world.

You’ll learn

  • Cotton was the engine of global capitalism
  • Slavery and colonialism built the cotton empire
  • The state and capital worked hand in hand
  • Industrial and war capitalism were two sides of the same coin