Werner Sombart

Born in Ermsleben in 1863 and later based in Berlin, Werner Sombart was a German economist, historian, and sociologist who became one of the best-known social scientists in continental Europe in the early 1900s. He is often associated with the German Historical School and is remembered for his wide-ranging attempts to explain how capitalism developed and transformed society.

His best-known work is Der moderne Kapitalismus (Modern Capitalism), a large study of economic history. He also wrote on themes such as socialism, war, luxury, and the cultural character of modern economic life. Sombart is frequently credited with helping popularize terms and ideas that remained influential in later discussions of capitalism, including "creative destruction" and "late capitalism."

His legacy is complicated. Alongside his importance as a scholar, later writings linked him to nationalist and antisemitic currents that have made him a controversial figure. Even so, he remains an important reference point for readers interested in the history of capitalism and the development of modern social thought.