This course explores world economic development from prehistoric times to the “long twentieth century,” with particular emphasis on English and American industrialization. While organized chronologically, the scope of such a vast history requires a selective approach, concentrating on key episodes and interpretive frameworks. The central theme is the emergence and transformation of the capitalist world economy. Within this context, the Industrial Revolution stands out as the most profound transformation in human history. How and when it occurred, as well as its broader consequences, will be central questions of inquiry. Major topics include the transition from feudal economies to capitalism, the legal foundations of this transformation, the rise of industrial production and its preconditions, and the diverse patterns of industrial development across regions.