For most of History most of Europe was Savage lands. Then around 1600 they surpassed thier Asian masters in Persia, China, etc
What happened?
Turco-Mongols happened, and plague
>>473947
>Then around 1600 they surpassed thier Asian masters in Persia, China, etc
>around 1600
The Herodotus at the top of the board is weeping....
Muslim Enlightenment, Islamic retention of Greco-roman greats, Islamic green revolution.
Except they weren't savage at all. This is Newgrange in Ireland, some 6,000 years older than the pyramids of Egypt. Too many other examples, shit even many European folk religions give a near exact description of the big bang.
Inb4 we wuz kingz
>>474345
Damn it Bobby
In the 13th century when the spanish started translating from arabic all the works of the classics, europe started to get civilized again.
>>473947
Lots of factors really, though I would say the dominant one was Imperialism.
Starting with the discovery of 'Muricas. It made competition fierce between European powers. Unlike China who were just a big blob to the east with no rivals, except maybe the occasion stepniggers who got gunned downed.
This competition also came at a local level, making the way for a new emerging middle class.
And unlike China at the time, the European monarchs actually encourage colonization and exploration. Not like Ming who burned the most powerful navy to the ground.
Even though Europe was the most innovative since the 15th century. They weren't really dominant on the battlefield before the 19th century.
Latin alphabet is only 25 or so reasonably simple characters. Makes printing super easy and economical compared to other alphabets character systems.
Just one of many factors, but the comparitive ease of adapting to printing was a major one.
>>473989
don't worry, it will read bizarre sex customs of babylonians, jerk off and go to bed
No one thing. But before Europe got great, you have to remember that European nations had been at each others throat for past half millenia. This kind of arms race pretty much boosted the technological innovation and favoured certain traits (such as greediness, warring). Eventually this led to small European nations being able to compete with large empires across the sea. Also the fact that China shut itself from the world pretty much made sure Europeans could dominate it. Luck was on Europeans side with that.
The list for all the reasons is longer than one thread allows posts.
I don't think Greeks and Romans were shit, but anyways. The answer is renaiscence.
Competition
Science/Medicine
Property Rights
Consumerism
Work Ethic
>>473947
> Read posts in this thread
> No industrial revolution
> No Pomeranz, Allen, Mokyr, Maddison or Ferguson.
Srsly? Did no one on this board actually study history?
Abundance of coal in the Low Countries and Britain, and timber in the readily accesible New World -> fuel for industrial revolution. At the same time, these countries have high-wage economies - the opportunity cost of not innovating is more significant than in China, who has a low-wage high-density labour force.
Also enlightenment values foster innovation.
Don't listen to those who talk about cultural traditions such as late marriage keeping European populations below maximum potential and under control - Chinese population was also significantly lower than it could be due to fertility control within marriage.
>>475033
*...China, which has a low-wage....
>>474345
>6000 years older than the pyramids of Egypt
No.
*cough*
>>473947
tumblr pls go
>>475033
The thing is, Europe passed the rest of the world before the Industrial Revolution.
You can't cite it, or the factors that led to it, as definitive reasons.
>>476506
What?
>>473947
The Greeks and Romans, in fact any European peoples, at any point in history, are better than any muslim nation even today.
>>473947
The printing press.
>>478150
Very much this. It lead to higher literacy rates across western Europe. There's a reason why Europe experienced a boom of intellectual thinkers on every field imaginable. They laid the foundations of modern science for example.
>>478189
This means we need higher literacy rates in other parts of the world, especially Africa.
>>473947
>around 1600
Seriously this meme needs to die. There were always parts of the western world that were civilised and relevant, even in antiquity and before. It was no sudden shift. It was a gradual advancement at a reasonable pace.
>>474358
t. Alberto Barbosa
