Caliban and the Witch

A radical Marxist-feminist history of the transition from feudalism to capitalism—through the lens of the witch hunts.

Federici’s groundbreaking book connects the persecution of women as witches with the rise of capitalism, arguing that the control of women’s bodies and labor was central to capitalist development.

A potent blend of history, theory, and political critique, Caliban and the Witch rewrites the origin story of modern economies.