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Promises, Promises: A History of Debt

Anthropologist David Graeber explores the ways debt has shaped society over 5,000 years.

Radio 4 Extra,12 episodes

Episodes

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The Moral Power of Debt
Anthropologist David Graeber examines the moral power that debt holds over people.
02 Mar 2015,15 mins
What is Debt?
David Graeber asks what debt actually is. It is not as simple as one might think.
03 Mar 2015,15 mins
The Origin of Money
David Graeber examines the centrality of debt to the origin of money.
04 Mar 2015,15 mins
The Theology of Debt
David Graeber considers how the world's religious texts include the language of debt.
05 Mar 2015,15 mins
The Classical World
Anthropologist David Graeber examines debt in the Classical period.
06 Mar 2015,15 mins
The Medieval Period
David Graeber examines debt during the medieval period, when coinage largely disappeared.
09 Mar 2015,15 mins
The Conquistadors and the Birth of the Modern World Economy
David Graeber examines the influence of debt during the conquest of South America.
10 Mar 2015,15 mins
The Birth of Capitalism
David Graeber examines the influence of debt during the birth of capitalism.
11 Mar 2015,15 mins
The International Politics of Debt
David Graeber examines the rise of virtual money since the 1970s.
12 Mar 2015,15 mins
Hope
David Graeber examines the crash of 2008 in the context of the history of debt.
13 Mar 2015,15 mins
Omnibus Episode 1
Anthropologist David Graeber explores the ways debt has shaped society over 5,000 years.
29 Jul 2016,58 mins
Omnibus Episode 2
Anthropologist David Graeber explores the ways debt has shaped society over 5,000 years.
05 Aug 2016,58 mins