Before the 13th Century, the low countries were a small region at the fringe of Europe. Yet, by the 17th Century, the Netherlands had transformed into the most prosperous society in the world. How did such transformation occur? Today we will be joined by Professors Praak and van Zanden, who will discuss their most recent book "Pioneers ofCapitalism" and guide us into the economic history of medieval and early modern history, telling a story about how a strong civil community and feudal institutions interacted to give birth to the first capitalist society