In this accessible overview of economic history, Andrew Leigh examines the role of economic forces in shaping human societies from pre-agricultural times to the present, connecting major global developments to underlying economic principles. The book traces the evolution of markets, institutions, trade, and inequality while discussing how economic ideas have influenced political and social change throughout history. Designed for a broad readership, it distills complex concepts into clear narratives that illuminate how economics explains pivotal moments and patterns across world history