Historical Developments
A variety of factors contributed to the growth of industrial production and eventually resulted in the Industrial Revolution, including:
§ Proximity to waterways; access to rivers and canals
§ Geographical distribution of coal, iron, and timber
§ Urbanization
§ Improved agricultural productivity
§ Access to foreign resources
§ Accumulation of capital
The development of the factory system concentrated production in a single location and led to an increasing degree of specialization of labor.
§ Proximity to waterways; access to rivers and canals
§ Geographical distribution of coal, iron, and timber
§ Urbanization
§ Improved agricultural productivity
§ Access to foreign resources
§ Accumulation of capital
The development of the factory system concentrated production in a single location and led to an increasing degree of specialization of labor.
Reading Questions
How did coal contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did wages and the accumulation of capital contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did England's attitude toward technology contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did access to new world resources contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did property rights contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did culture contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did water and transportation, improved farming practices and the factory system contribute to the start of the Industrial Revolution?
How did wages and the accumulation of capital contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did England's attitude toward technology contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did access to new world resources contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did property rights contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did culture contribute to the growth of Industrialization in England but not in China?
How did water and transportation, improved farming practices and the factory system contribute to the start of the Industrial Revolution?
The Great Divergence: Why England and not China?
The Great Divergence: Why England? Why Not China?
In recent years, historians have debated the roots of Europe’s rise in world leadership, power, and wealth while other societies, especially in Asia, lost the political and economic leadership they once enjoyed—what some call “the great divergence.” How and why Europe rather than a major Asian society like China came to dominate the world remain some of the principal questions of modern world history. If several Asian societies had an edge in power and wealth during most of the Post Classical Era, then why was the world so very different in 1800? Some Western European societies, especially Britain, moved toward an unprecedented level of industrialization while once-influential Asian societies, including China, increasingly faced challenges from the West. To many historians, the surprising rise of Europe during the Early Modern and Modern Eras needs explaining. It was not inevitable; history could have turned out very differently.
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Coal: The distribution of coal deposits shaped industrial development in Britain. As you know, coal is the fuel that made the Industrial Revolution possible. Prominent historian Kenneth Pomeranz has drawn attention to differences in the availability of coal between West and East as a primary reason in explaining the great divergence. Although China and Europe had comparable mining technologies, the distances between the manufacturing zones and coal deposits were vastly different. The largest coal deposits in China are located in the northwest. The southward population shift that occurred between the 12th and 14th centuries resulted in new centers of Chinese industry, far from the major coal deposits. In contrast, Britain contained some of the largest coal deposits in Europe and these deposits were near England’s industrial centers. |
Wages: Economic historian Robert Allen estimates wages in China and England were dramatically different. As a result of its massive population, labor in China was very cheap. For example, because of China’s large population, slavery never really took root there. With so many people, labor was abundant and therefore cheap. In England in contrast, population was sparse. As the English economy began to grow, the British demand for labor grew and because the labor pool was so small, British business had to spend much more on labor. High wages mean less profit. As a result, capitalists, in the West had a high incentive to invest in labor-saving technological advancements. In China, these incentives did not exist. In fact, labor saving devises were frowned upon because they took jobs away from actual people. In short then, British entrepreneurs had incentive to invest in technology. Chinese entrepreneurs did not
Attitude Towards Technology: Jared Diamond in the book Guns, Germs, and Steel argues that differing attitudes towards technology was an important explanation for the great divergence. Furthermore, Diamond argues that this difference is a result of geography. Chinese civilization developed on the great, flat, flood plains of East Asia, where monolithic, isolated empires were possible. In these conditions policies of technological and social stagnation could persist because the various Chinese dynasties had no military rivals. On the other hand, Europe's geography favored breaking down into smaller, closer, nation-states, as its many natural barriers (mountains, rivers) provide defensible borders. As a result, European governments that suppressed technological progress were out-competed relatively quickly. He argues that geographical factors created the conditions for more rapid internal superpower change (Spain succeeded by France and then by England) than was possible in Asia. These political rivalries led to dramatic technological innovation.
Chinese leaders, in contrast, viewed technology as a threat to the stability of the state and therefore did not pace much emphasis on the development of new technologies. As Historian David Landes explains, after developing some of the world’s most important innovations and inventions prior to 1450 CE, it seemed like China stopped trying and instead began to sustain what they had post 1450 CE. China’s attitude towards innovation showed that they focused more on experience, while England focused on experimentation.
Chinese leaders, in contrast, viewed technology as a threat to the stability of the state and therefore did not pace much emphasis on the development of new technologies. As Historian David Landes explains, after developing some of the world’s most important innovations and inventions prior to 1450 CE, it seemed like China stopped trying and instead began to sustain what they had post 1450 CE. China’s attitude towards innovation showed that they focused more on experience, while England focused on experimentation.
The New World: A variety of theories speculate that Europe's unique relationship with the New World was a major cause of the Great Divergence. Early European colonization was sustained by profits through selling New World goods to Asia, especially silver to China. According to historian Kenneth Pomeranz, the most important advantage for Europe was the vast amount of fertile, uncultivated land in the Americas which could be used to grow large quantities of cash crops required to sustain European economic growth and allowed labor and land to be freed up in Europe for industrialization. The New World then, served as a supplier of raw materials for English factories as well as a market for the goods produced in those factories. China, in contrast, did not have a continent to serve its natural resource needs. Every inch of cultivable land in China was already being utilized to feed its massive population and supply its artisans with the resources needed to support their endeavors. While Qing emperors did incorporate the northern region of Manchuria into their already large empire, it did not have the same impact on the Chinese economy. |
Property Rights: Differences in property rights have been cited as a possible cause of the great divergence. This view states that Asian merchants could not develop and accumulate capital (profit) because of the risk of losing their businesses to either the state or family members. Government policies are seen as an integral part of modern societies and have played a major role in how different economies have been formed. The Chinese government at the time lacked policies that fostered innovation and thus resulted in slow advancements. As explained by Historian Joanna Cohen, 18th century Chinese emperors developed a restrictive system of trade that went against the free world market theory; foreign merchants were forced to trade with Chinese government officials at specific ports. Furthermore, wealth accumulated by Chinese individuals was not protected and could be lost to rival family members or even the state. This was in contrast to the western society that developed commercial laws and property rights which allowed for the protection and liberty of the marketplace.
Western capitalist ideals and market structures encouraged innovation and their democratic governments recognized the citizen’s right to own property. In England, a business owner was legally assured a right to property. Moreover, He could rest assured that when he died, his property would legally be transferred to his family members. This meant that all profits accumulated by a business venture would remain within the family generation after generation. In short then it was much safer in England than it was in China to invest your money in economic pursuits.
Culture: Max Weber argued in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism that capitalism in northern Europe evolved when the Protestant work ethic influenced large numbers of people to engage in work in the secular world, developing their own enterprises and engaging in trade and the accumulation of wealth for investment. Chinese Historian Chen Kunting similarly argues that cultural differences were the most fundamental cause for the divergence. Chen argues that the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution and the various religious revolutions in Europe enabled an innovative, individualistic, and capitalistic spirit. In 18th century China, harsh repressions stifled dissenting opinions and encouraged conformity. Even more fundamentally, traditional Chinese culture, based on Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, taught that disobedience to the government was the greatest sin. Furthermore, this culture of respect and unquestionable devotion to the ruling dynasty led to a silent society that did not ask questions or experiment without the approval or order from the ruling class. This further stifled innovation.
Lastly, Historian Justin Yifu Lin blames the imperial examination system for the great divergence. With its emphasis on the rote memorization of Classical Confucian texts, the Chinese education system lacked incentives for Chinese intellectuals to learn mathematics, conduct experimentation, and think critically. On the other hand, the education system of the West was based on Greek Philosophy. With an emphasis on reason and logic, mathematics and science, academics in the West were problem solvers. They thought critically and helped build a civilization based on innovation and growth.
Lastly, Historian Justin Yifu Lin blames the imperial examination system for the great divergence. With its emphasis on the rote memorization of Classical Confucian texts, the Chinese education system lacked incentives for Chinese intellectuals to learn mathematics, conduct experimentation, and think critically. On the other hand, the education system of the West was based on Greek Philosophy. With an emphasis on reason and logic, mathematics and science, academics in the West were problem solvers. They thought critically and helped build a civilization based on innovation and growth.
Factors that both China and Britain possessed
Water and Transportation England's industrial revolution was also facilitated y the amount of rivers they had. No matter where you lived in England you were close to rivers and canals allowing for inland transportation. The British also had many harbors from which a merchant ship could set sail. Farming Practices
In the mid 1700s new farm techniques led to an Agricultural Revolution in Europe. Wealthy landowners began buying up all the land and putting fences around that property called the enclosure movement. These land enclosures allowed wealthy landowners to experiment scientifically with better farming methods. One such method was crop rotation- the practice of planting different crops sequentially on the same plot of land to improve soil health, optimize nutrients in the soil, and combat pest and weed pressure. Farmers grew plant that took too may of the nutrients from the soil but would later plant other crops that replenished the nutrients of the soil. Additionally, the invention of the seed drill by Jethrow Tull allowed farmers to use less seeds and plant more accurately. Additional to these new farming methods, the introduction of new crops from the Americas such as corn and potato also contributed to population growth. Farmers also experimented with livestock breeding by allowing only their largest animals to breed. This resulted in larger, healthier cattle and lamb. |
Urbanization
Thee additional food allowed for a population increase. The farming population no longer had enough jobs so they migrated to the cities. This migration of people provided the factory owners with the workforce needed for industrial growth. |