Religion and the Rise of Capitalism by R. H. Tawney is a landmark study of the relationship between religious ideas and economic change in early modern Europe. Tracing developments from the medieval church through the Reformation and Puritanism, it examines how shifting attitudes toward wealth, usury, and work accompanied the growth of capitalism.
Written in the early twentieth century, the book engages with Max Weber’s thesis and offers a rich account of social and religious history. Its analysis remains influential in economic and religious studies. This free EPUB edition presents the complete text for readers interested in the Reformation, capitalism, and the history of ideas.