Metals, Culture and Capitalism : An Essay on the Origins of the Modern World (Paperback)

Part I. Explorers: 1. The age of metals and the ancient Near East; 2. A Bronze Age without bronze; 3. Metals and society; 4. Trade and religion in the Mediterranean; 5. The coming of the Iron Age and classical civilisation; 6. After the Romans; Part II. Merchants: 7. 'Capitalism', exchange, and the Near East; 8. China and the Eurasian corridor; 9. Renewal in the West; 10. Venice and the North; Part III. Accumulators: 11. Iron and the Industrial Revolution; 12. Metals, 'capitalism' and the Renaissances; Appendix 1. The metallurgy of iron (by Dr J. A. Charles); Appendix 2. Damascene steel and blades; Glossary.