Capitalist origins of the English Revolution

Conclusion

At a recent American Sociological Association meeting, a prominent sociologist defended the sweep of the the neo-Marxist theory by stating: “Damn the facts. A good theory is hard to find.” I agree; a good theory is hard to find. But when the facts are this damning, perhaps it is time to look harder for another.

Rising population, and consequent rising prices and widespread fiscal distress, were hardly uniquely English or capitalist. They were influences felt in many places in seventeenth century Europe, and directly exacerbated conflicts over such political issues as taxation, exemption, and central control, which arose throughout the continent, from London to Moscow. I have argued that examining the effects of rapid population growth is crucial to understanding the origins of the English Revolution, and its concurrence with similar political conflicts in early modern Europe. Whether such a political demography will provide a greater understanding of revolutionary crises is a problem for further research. But searching for the capitalist origins of the English Revolution is chasing a chimera.