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143. Graeber's Debt Chapter 11: Age of Great Capitalist Empires

143. Graeber's Debt Chapter 11: Age of Great Capitalist Empires
17th century portrait of Hernán Cortés, 16th century capitalist

What is capitalism?

It's not efficient markets, factories, and free labor.

It's the financialization of empire and slavery, using greed, shame, indignation, and debt.

And that means the first great capitalists weren't British factory owners, but colonizing conquistadors.