The empire of cotton was, from the beginning, a fulcrum of a constant global struggle between slaves and planters, merchants and statesmen, workers and factory owners. Understanding the history of cotton is key to understanding the origins of relentless modern capitalism, including the vast wealth and disturbing inequalities that are with us today. Sven Beckert’s fascinating book tells the story of how, in a remarkably brief period, European entrepreneurs and powerful statesmen recast the world’s most significant manufacturing industry, combining imperial expansion and slave labor with new machines and wage workers to change the world. Empire of Cotton brilliantly weaves together the story of cotton with how the present global world came to exist.