This volume investigates the fundamental material conditions and structural constraints that defined human existence and economic activity from the 15th to the 18th century. Fernand Braudel, a central figure of the Annales school, utilizes a vast array of archival data and cross-cultural comparisons to argue that the 'structures of everyday life'—the mundane habits of consumption, production, and social organization—formed the bedrock upon which the later development of capitalism was built. By focusing on the 'longue duree,' he shifts the historical lens away from political events toward the slow-moving, often invisible forces that dictated the limits of what was possible for pre-industrial societies.

This work is widely regarded as a foundational text in the field of social and economic history, noted for its immense breadth and meticulous attention to the minutiae of daily life. The text is considered a dense, scholarly resource that remains essential for understanding the material foundations of the modern world.