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The Rise of the West (Rise of the West as a 'European Miracle'…
The Rise of the West
Rise of the West as a 'European Miracle'
if you want to explain the rise of Western powers you have to look at sth
internal, within Europe
rooted in 19th century sociology (Marx, Weber, Durkheim)
Backwardness of non-western countries: they don't have an element we have > backward notion > we need to introduce them to it
Imperialism was viewed as a vehicle of progress
No progress in traditional non-Western countries; seen as circular
Back then there was l
ittle knowledge about the non-European world
, compared to now, where these accounts seem impossible
Politics of knowledge:
we have passed age of European dominance; live in an age of extreme normative shifts especially in notions of equality
Pomeranz's Great Divergence view (Revisionist/California School)
World of surprising similarity in the mid-18th century
Something dramatic happened in the 18th century for the emergence of the West to be facilitated
1800: some nations diverged from that path
Industrial Revolution
in Britain as a key event
Coal
: first time in history there is access to non-animate form of energy; steam engine was crucial
Colonies
: Brits could overcome the limitations of their own agricultural economy, would produce things elsewhere for them consume
Often attributed it to '
luck
'
Others attributed it to
theft
Global production of silver in the New World:
used the silver to buy superior products form Asia
Slavery
reduced costs of production for consumption goods
Problems with this View
Coal was prominent in other countries at that time
- how do you explain this?
Most of the
literature mainly compares China & Britain
Attempt to c
haracterise West-East is not very helpful
; looking for the
x-factor is too simplistic
Smaller divergences are important too
Culture
East held onto their beliefs & ideologies
Greek & Christian inheritance in Europe collapse; it was outdated > led to the Scientific Revolution
Protestant Revolution: two Christian groups fighting each other > led to religious pluralism & secularism > obstacles of the scientific revolution erode
Economy
Enlightened economy: basic mathematical and literacy knowledge was fundamental, as well as intellectual curiosity > conjunction of this was present in England > reason for the Industrial Revolution in Britain (and not in other countries)
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