Smith's promotion and popularization of the concept in his 1776 book [[The Wealth of Nations]], and it propelled the [[British Empire]] to become the greatest power in the history of the world in the 19th century. | Smith's promotion and popularization of the concept in his 1776 book [[The Wealth of Nations]], and it propelled the [[British Empire]] to become the greatest power in the history of the world in the 19th century. |