Description
Book SynopsisOne thousand years ago, a traveler to Baghdad or the Chinese capital Kaifeng would have discovered a vast and flourishing city of broad streets, spacious gardens, and sophisticated urban amenities; meanwhile, Paris, Rome, and London were cramped and unhygienic collections of villages, and Europe was a backwater. How, then, did it rise to world preeminence over the next several centuries? This is the central historical conundrum of modern times.
How Europe Made the Modern World draws upon the latest scholarship dealing with the various aspects of the West's divergence, including geography, demography, technology, culture, institutions, science and economics. It avoids the twin dangers of Eurocentrism and anti-Westernism, strongly emphasizing the contributions of other cultures of the world to the West''s rise while rejecting the claim that there was nothing distinctive about Europe in the premodern period. Daly provides a concise summary of the debate from both sides, whilst also
Trade ReviewIn this fascinating overview, Daly argues that Europe’s economic rise did not depend on a geographic accident, such as having abundant coal beneath the ground. It depended instead on the ability of Europeans to create institutions that allowed them to unleash their creative potential. This book is an excellent introduction to the subject. * David Stasavage, Julius Silver Professor, New York University, USA *
In this slim but engaging and deeply informed volume, Daly skillfully summarizes the complex and controversial literature on the role of Europe in the Great Enrichment. His treatment is without exception balanced and judicious, with a welcome emphasis on the centrality of culture and institutions in explaining modern economic growth. * Joel Mokyr, Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Economics and History, Northwestern University, USA *
Unlike most works by economic historians, this book tackles the Great Divergence from what Karl Marx would call the 'super-structure' of civilisations rather than 'material foundation' of them. This change in the reference system allows the author to view the divergence in very different light: rule of law, legal rights, knowledge accumulation and diffusion which permitted Western Europe to develop better than other parts of Eurasia. The reader will find a logically constant argument from the beginning to the end despite a degree of teleology which cannot be fully proved. * Kent Deng, Professor of Economic History, London School of Economics, UK *
The text is only 147 pages and the small size of each of these is to be noted. In effect, Daly provides an account of the standard points in a way that is readily accessible to students. * European Review of History *
Table of ContentsList of Maps Preface Introduction: Alchemy of Civilization Chapter 1: The Supremacy of Law Chapter 2: A Passion for Travel Chapter 3: Tsunami of the Printed Word Chapter 4: Rights and Liberties Chapter 5: An Anxiety for Knowing Chapter 6: The Republic of Letters Chapter 7: Breaking with Tradition Conclusion Notes Works Cited Index
