Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power

In Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power, historian Victoria Bateman reshapes the narrative of economic history by placing women at its centre. Too often, the story of wealth and prosperity has been told through the exploits of men — industrialists, financiers, entrepreneurs. This book shows that women were never merely peripheral: they helped build ancient cities, wove the trade-routes of the Silk Road, managed major industrial operations in medieval Europe and pioneered financial institutions in the twentieth century. 
Bateman guides the reader through twelve millennia of human economic development — from early agrarian societies, through colonial trade, to modern technology, always spotlighting the often-overlooked women whose work, enterprise and resilience made economic growth possible. We meet the female brewers of medieval London, the craftswomen of ancient Egypt, the entrepreneurs of the industrial revolution and the business strategists of our global digital era. 
This is not simply a revisionist account: it is a richly global, meticulously researched work that demonstrates how ignoring half the population distorts our understanding of economics. Bateman argues that prosperity — societal and individual — rises when women are free to work, earn and invest. She shows how economic structures that constrained women harmed not only individuals but entire societies. 
Whether you are an economist, historian, business leader or simply curious about how wealth and power have been distributed across genders and geographies, Economica offers a compelling and essential story. It invites readers to rethink the past and imagine an economy that truly accounts for everyone.