Kenneth Pomeranz’s book arguing that the Great Divergence between the West and China only began around the 1700s/early 1800s has been such a damaging thesis (rectified by subsequent lit). In reality, it started in the 1500s because Western Europe didn’t suffer from steppe nomads
Kenneth Pomeranz’s book arguing that the Great Divergence between the West and China only began around the 1700s/early 1800s has been such a damaging thesis (rectified by subsequent lit). In reality, it started in the 1500s because Western Europe didn’t suffer from steppe nomads
Iberian travellers had a relatively positive impression of China into the 1600s and the early Qing years I think (please correct me if I’m wrong here), but Iberia itself had started falling behind to the Dutch and especially the English/British.
Anglo exceptionalism is absolutely real though (unfortunately): between about the late 1600s and 1900, the English (+Scottish) and later the British alone were literally producing more engineering and science than the rest of the planet combined.
The fact that Merkel’s advisor ended up agreeing with the Pomeranz thesis after some “research” though is just top kek. Shows you how even false narratives can be used to help buttress national narratives for state building and geopolitics.
@blob_watcher No doubt the Anglos were ahead but more science & engineering than the rest of the world combined from 1600s to 1900? Feels like a huge exaggeration. Do you have a source for this?
@blob_watcher What happened around 1760s that propelled british industrial revolution, why not before it? @grok what was the population and economy of Nawabate of Bengal in mid 17th century compared to UK and France?
@blob_watcher The wealth of China had been an inspiration for "explorations" until quite late. x.com/2020benlang/st…
@blob_watcher The wealth of China had been an inspiration for "explorations" until quite late. x.com/2020benlang/st…
