session 19: Great Divergence

Question 1

What is the “Great Divergence”?

Answer 1

The widening gap where Western Europe industrialized and became richer than Asia, especially after ~1800

Question 2

Core claim about Europe before 1500?

Answer 2

Europe was behind parts of Asia/Middle East in tech, economy, and trade

Question 3

When did Europe decisively surpass leading Asian societies (per Goldstone)?

Answer 3

Around 1800

Question 4

What did the Scientific Revolution change in this story?

Answer 4

It boosted science + technology, helping Europe’s later edge

Question 5

Key idea of Goldstone’s framework?

Answer 5

The West’s rise was recent, sudden, and built partly on other civilizations’ achievements

Question 6

Goldstone “temporary phenomenon” suggests what?

Answer 6

Western dominance might be short-lived, not permanent

Question 7

Working hypothesis about Eurasia (Early Modern Period)?

Answer 7

Shared economic expansion dynamics existed across both ends of Eurasia

Question 8

Key caution when comparing Europe vs Asia?

Answer 8

They were not equal, but comparable in many ways

Question 9

Pomeranz: 2 key reasons Britain industrialized

Answer 9

Coal + Colonies (“ghost acreage”).

Question 10

Why did coal help Britain?

Answer 10

Coal was abundant + close to cities/industry

Question 11

Coal issue in China (Pomeranz)?

Answer 11

Coal was far from the most dynamic regions

Question 12

What is “ghost acreage”?

Answer 12

Colonies = extra land/resources giving cheap raw materials

Question 13

Ming → Qing growth pattern (to ~1840)?

Answer 13

Ming intensive growth → Qing extensive expansion

Question 14

Two Qing expansion facts by 1840

Answer 14

Pop ~400M + territory at largest size

Question 15

Qing China economy in one phrase

Answer 15

Rural, market-oriented agrarian empire

Question 16

Why could Qing support huge population growth?

Answer 16

New crops expanded farming onto marginal land

Question 17

What pushed a “boom of markets” across territories?

Answer 17

Need to pay taxes → need cash/markets

Question 18

Why is China described as more than a nation-state?

Answer 18

een as a “civilization-state” (huge scale)

Question 19

Key “factors of production” mentioned (China)

Answer 19

Land, money, population, capital.

Question 20

How market-oriented was Qing society (note)? |

Answer 20

A large share of people depended on market activity

Question 21

Why did the state reduce its role in trade (note)?

Answer 21

Private merchants/agencies could handle trade

Question 22

What currency mix supported Qing markets?

Answer 22

Silver + copper coins (bimetallic use)

Question 23

Silver vs copper:

Answer 23

Silver = big deals; copper = everyday transactions

Question 24

Problem with silver money transport?

Answer 24

Heavy + risky (banditry)

Question 25

About how much of the population depended on markets (your notes)? (China)

Answer 25

80%

Question 26

Solution to moving value safely (Qing finance)?

Answer 26

Letters of exchange / “remittances.

Question 27

Why was foreign silver inflow “crucial”?

Answer 27

It stabilized the economy and helped manage trade imbalances

Question 28

Europe vs China manufacturing advantage (in your notes)

Answer 28

Europe: tech/manufacturing capacity; China: price + quality in developed areas

Question 29

Two “comparable” living features Europe & China shared

Answer 29

Similar consumption + similar living standards

Question 30

Common global force affecting both regions

Answer 30

Expansionary growth

Question 31

Why did inflation happen (your notes)?

Answer 31

More money + goods in circulation → inflationary process

Question 32

How did machine-made silver coins change things?

Answer 32

Same size/value → more trust → more circulation → inflatio

Question 33

Subaltern people (definition from your notes)

Answer 33

People with fewer political rights than elites