What Is the History of Capitalism?

Join us for the inaugural meeting of the new History of Capitalism Global Humanities Research Workshop for a panel discussion featuring professors Sharon Ann Murphy (Providence College), Eric Hilt (Wellesley College), and Gordon H. Chang (Stanford University). This event is co-sponsored the Department of History.

What is capitalism? How can we study its historical development? What does the lens of capitalism reveal—or obscure—compared to frameworks centered on economic history, business history, and political economy? This wide-ranging conversation explores the interdisciplinary nature of capitalism studies and its relevance to urgent contemporary issues—from inequality and environmental change to global political tensions. Join us for a critical discussion that rethinks the boundaries of the field, revisits key methodological debates, and sparks new questions across disciplines.