About The World in 1776 project

The World in 1776 sits within a wider, multi institutional exploration of the global forces that shaped Adam Smith’s world and continue to shape ours. Developed alongside the 250th anniversary celebrations of The Wealth of Nations, the project brings together historians, economists, curators, and the public to reconsider the legacies of slavery, empire, free trade, and revolution in the making of the modern economy.

Throughout 2026, this collaborative programme spans a rich set of activities:

  • Academic conferences that reassess Smith’s ideas in light of new scholarship on global commerce, colonialism, and inequality.
  • Public talks featuring leading researchers discussing how the legacies of 1776 continue to shape contemporary debates on capitalism, labour, and justice.
  • Historical walking tours that trace the imprint of slavery and empire on the streets, institutions, and built environment of Britain.
  • Museum exhibitions that connect archival materials, objects, and personal stories to the global networks of trade and exploitation that underpinned eighteenth‑century economic thought.

The game forms the interactive heart of this broader project. By placing players in the shoes of a sailor navigating the imperial world of 1776, it invites them to encounter — directly and viscerally — the human and economic systems that shaped Smith’s era.

Learn more about the Wealth of Nations @ 250 Project, and sign up to attend our conferences, talks, tours and exhibits.

 

Credits