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This course explores how people have thought about economic life from the earliest times to the start of modern economics.
Human beings have always depended on each other to survive. By working together, specialising in different tasks, and trading with one another, we have increased our wealth and improved our lives. From early on, thinkers began to ask important questions: What happens to us as we work and trade? What is a good life? What is fair?
Economics did not begin as a technical science. It was originally part of a wider search for how to live well - as members of a community, as workers, as citizens, and as moral individuals. This course explores that older way of thinking about economics and asks whether we might benefit from returning to it.
What will we cover?
In this first part of a two-part course, we look at how different cultures and thinkers understood economic life and the moral questions that come with it.
Because humans rely on cooperation to survive, economic activity has always involved questions about right and wrong:
What is fair?
Who benefits?
What should be allowed or forbidden?
We will explore how these questions were answered from ancient times to the 18th century, including:
Religious and philosophical traditions from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Taoism
Classical thinkers such as Aristotle
European traditions, including the Scholastics and the School of Salamanca
Early modern thinkers such as Machiavelli
Economic schools like the Mercantilists and Physiocrats
Richard Cantillon and Adam Smith (especially his Theory of Moral Sentiments)
Along the way, we will look at debates about:
Slavery
Trade and wealth
Money and its role
Lending and interest
The idea of a “just price”
Many of these questions are still with us today. We will also ask whether our modern answers are better than those of the past.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Understand how different societies have organised economic life in very different ways
Explore examples such as:
The highly planned economy of the Inca Empire
The trading cities of medieval Europe
India’s caste system
China’s exam-based system for selecting officials
Recognise that economic systems are shaped by choices and values, not by fixed “natural” rules
You will also:
Feel more confident discussing economic and social issues
Enjoy reading a wider range of books and articles
Be better equipped to think critically about news and social media
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No previous knowledge is required as this is an introductory course. That being said, an interest in news and current affairs may prove helpful. Reading the Business and Economics news would also develop your learning and help you gain more from the course both in terms of enjoyment and learning outcomes.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The tutor’s presentation, dynamic slides, and lively class interaction will combine to clarify the issues.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Nothing to buy and nothing to bring to the classroom, other than an open and curious mind.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This course is designed to stand on its own and focuses on ideas before the Industrial Revolution.
If you would like to continue, you can take History of Economic Thought: part 2, which explores:
After a brief stint at Sorbonne University reading French Lit and odd jobs in the film industry, Christian Michel joined a financial firm in Paris, before moving to Geneva, working on projects in West Africa and Russia. To use a common metaphor, business is only looking at trees, whereas Christian was keen to gain a perspective on the whole forest. He developed an interest in economics, questioning the purpose of it all – why work, why trade, why money, why growth, and what effects do production and consumption have on us, on our society and on nature. Christian has written a couple of books (in French) on these topics and many articles. He has been teaching various courses at City Lit since 2013.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/history-of-economic-thought-part-13073258History of economic thought: part 1https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/a-taste-of-politics-hpc36.jpg259259GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Politics & economics/Economics/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Politics & economics22851177167216771228511771677<p>Want to learn about the the development of economic ideas and how they tie in with political ideas? Join this course to strengthen your understanding.</p>003031141History of economic thought: part 1259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/a-taste-of-politics-hpc36.jpgInStockEveningWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHPC86259259History of economic thought: part 1259168259Christian Michelhistory-of-economic-thought-part-1/hpc86-2627<p>Want to learn about the the development of economic ideas and how they tie in with political ideas? Join this course to strengthen your understanding.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-16 00:00:00<p>This course explores how people have thought about economic life from the earliest times to the start of modern economics.</p><p>Human beings have always depended on each other to survive. By working together, specialising in different tasks, and trading with one another, we have increased our wealth and improved our lives. From early on, thinkers began to ask important questions: What happens to us as we work and trade? What is a good life? What is fair?</p><p>Economics did not begin as a technical science. It was originally part of a wider search for how to live well - as members of a community, as workers, as citizens, and as moral individuals. This course explores that older way of thinking about economics and asks whether we might benefit from returning to it.</p><p>Want to learn about the the development of economic ideas and how they tie in with political ideas? Join this course to strengthen your understanding.</p><p>In this first part of a two-part course, we look at how different cultures and thinkers understood economic life and the moral questions that come with it.</p><p>Because humans rely on cooperation to survive, economic activity has always involved questions about right and wrong:</p><ul><li>What is fair?</li><li>Who benefits?</li><li>What should be allowed or forbidden?</li></ul><p>We will explore how these questions were answered from ancient times to the 18th century, including:</p><ul><li>Religious and philosophical traditions from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Taoism</li><li>Classical thinkers such as Aristotle</li><li>European traditions, including the Scholastics and the School of Salamanca</li><li>Early modern thinkers such as Machiavelli</li><li>Economic schools like the Mercantilists and Physiocrats</li><li>Richard Cantillon and Adam Smith (especially his <em>Theory of Moral Sentiments</em>)</li></ul><p>Along the way, we will look at debates about:</p><ul><li>Slavery</li><li>Trade and wealth</li><li>Money and its role</li><li>Lending and interest</li><li>The idea of a “just price”</li></ul><p>Many of these questions are still with us today. We will also ask whether our modern answers are better than those of the past.</p><ul><li>Understand how different societies have organised economic life in very different ways</li><li>Explore examples such as:<ul><li>The highly planned economy of the Inca Empire</li><li>The trading cities of medieval Europe</li><li>India’s caste system</li><li>China’s exam-based system for selecting officials</li></ul></li><li>Recognise that economic systems are shaped by choices and values, not by fixed “natural” rules</li></ul><p>You will also:</p><ul><li>Feel more confident discussing economic and social issues</li><li>Enjoy reading a wider range of books and articles</li><li>Be better equipped to think critically about news and social media</li></ul><p>No previous knowledge is required as this is an introductory course. That being said, an interest in news and current affairs may prove helpful. Reading the Business and Economics news would also develop your learning and help you gain more from the course both in terms of enjoyment and learning outcomes.</p><p>The tutor’s presentation, dynamic slides, and lively class interaction will combine to clarify the issues. </p><p>Nothing to buy and nothing to bring to the classroom, other than an open and curious mind. </p><p>This course is designed to stand on its own and focuses on ideas before the Industrial Revolution.</p><p>If you would like to continue, you can take <strong>History of Economic Thought: part 2</strong>, which explores:</p><ul><li>Modern economic theories</li><li>Free markets and capitalism</li><li>Socialism and Marxism</li><li>Planned economies</li><li>Keynesian economics</li></ul><p>Recent developments in economic thinking</p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/politics-and-world-affairs/economics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View all our upcoming Economics courses and workshops here.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/refer-a-friend" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Give a friend £20 off their first course</strong></a><br>And you will also get £20 off your next course over £99.</p>Politics & economicsEconomicsvirtual259259168HPC86NONEWed16/09/26 - 02/12/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:3012 sessions (over 12 weeks)1211 weeks or longerEveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetChristian MichelBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities259259History of economic thought: part 1history-of-economic-thought-part-1/hpc86-2627<p>Want to learn about the the development of economic ideas and how they tie in with political ideas? Join this course to strengthen your understanding.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-16 00:00:00<p>This course explores how people have thought about economic life from the earliest times to the start of modern economics.</p><p>Human beings have always depended on each other to survive. By working together, specialising in different tasks, and trading with one another, we have increased our wealth and improved our lives. From early on, thinkers began to ask important questions: What happens to us as we work and trade? What is a good life? What is fair?</p><p>Economics did not begin as a technical science. It was originally part of a wider search for how to live well - as members of a community, as workers, as citizens, and as moral individuals. This course explores that older way of thinking about economics and asks whether we might benefit from returning to it.</p><p>Want to learn about the the development of economic ideas and how they tie in with political ideas? Join this course to strengthen your understanding.</p><p>In this first part of a two-part course, we look at how different cultures and thinkers understood economic life and the moral questions that come with it.</p><p>Because humans rely on cooperation to survive, economic activity has always involved questions about right and wrong:</p><ul><li>What is fair?</li><li>Who benefits?</li><li>What should be allowed or forbidden?</li></ul><p>We will explore how these questions were answered from ancient times to the 18th century, including:</p><ul><li>Religious and philosophical traditions from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Taoism</li><li>Classical thinkers such as Aristotle</li><li>European traditions, including the Scholastics and the School of Salamanca</li><li>Early modern thinkers such as Machiavelli</li><li>Economic schools like the Mercantilists and Physiocrats</li><li>Richard Cantillon and Adam Smith (especially his <em>Theory of Moral Sentiments</em>)</li></ul><p>Along the way, we will look at debates about:</p><ul><li>Slavery</li><li>Trade and wealth</li><li>Money and its role</li><li>Lending and interest</li><li>The idea of a “just price”</li></ul><p>Many of these questions are still with us today. We will also ask whether our modern answers are better than those of the past.</p><ul><li>Understand how different societies have organised economic life in very different ways</li><li>Explore examples such as:<ul><li>The highly planned economy of the Inca Empire</li><li>The trading cities of medieval Europe</li><li>India’s caste system</li><li>China’s exam-based system for selecting officials</li></ul></li><li>Recognise that economic systems are shaped by choices and values, not by fixed “natural” rules</li></ul><p>You will also:</p><ul><li>Feel more confident discussing economic and social issues</li><li>Enjoy reading a wider range of books and articles</li><li>Be better equipped to think critically about news and social media</li></ul><p>No previous knowledge is required as this is an introductory course. That being said, an interest in news and current affairs may prove helpful. Reading the Business and Economics news would also develop your learning and help you gain more from the course both in terms of enjoyment and learning outcomes.</p><p>The tutor’s presentation, dynamic slides, and lively class interaction will combine to clarify the issues. </p><p>Nothing to buy and nothing to bring to the classroom, other than an open and curious mind. </p><p>This course is designed to stand on its own and focuses on ideas before the Industrial Revolution.</p><p>If you would like to continue, you can take <strong>History of Economic Thought: part 2</strong>, which explores:</p><ul><li>Modern economic theories</li><li>Free markets and capitalism</li><li>Socialism and Marxism</li><li>Planned economies</li><li>Keynesian economics</li></ul><p>Recent developments in economic thinking</p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/politics-and-world-affairs/economics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View all our upcoming Economics courses and workshops here.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/refer-a-friend" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Give a friend £20 off their first course</strong></a><br>And you will also get £20 off your next course over £99.</p>Politics & economicsEconomicsconfigurable
16721677Economicshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/politics-and-world-affairs/economics1/2/285/1177/1677/16721/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Politics & economics/Economics
