Scientists and politicians around the world continue to torment the question why Europe succeeded after 1500 to become a world leader?
The rise of the Western Europe was in no way based on the common European superiority over other regions and civilizations of the world. The Europeans were not richer, more progressive in technical and scientific terms or in production and trade, then main civilizations in Asia. Up to 1500, Europe was strongly behind regarding welfare, science and technology. Even in 1700, “it only began to catch up with the most advanced regions in Asia in terms of agricultural productivity and still was not able to produce cotton, silk or porcelain of the same quality as in India and China” (Spielvogel 242). Prior to 1700, there was nothing in religion, technology, trade, or even in the laws that could have given a clear advantage to it in the future. After all, Europe has experienced the same crisis of the mid-17th century, associated with a growing population and the social and political conflicts as China and the Ottoman Empire. Trade expansion of Europe after 1500 years, showed no superiority to the already existing network of ocean trade in Asia. In fact, for the next 300 years the trade expansion of Europe has focused on importing high-quality manufactured goods from Asia in exchange for the large-scale export of silver, coming from the new world (Coppolaro and McKenzie 34).
An American scientist from the University of Virginia, in his book ‘Why Europe? The Rise of the West in World History, 1500-1850’, tried to answer that question. According to him, the special place of Europe was formed by the combination of six unique factors (Goldstone 45-78). First, a number of remarkable discoveries forced the Europeans to challenge and ultimately reject the authority of their ancient religious texts. Among the first was the discovery of the new world on the other side of the Atlantic. Religion and the study of classical texts in Europe did not disappear, but became guidelines for its ethics. Secondly, the Europeans have developed an approach to science, combining experimental research and mathematical analysis of the natural world. This combination is most clearly shown in the works of Galileo, Copernicus, Newton and Huygens detached from the old scientific traditions. The third key factor was the spread of views of Francis Bacon, the Lord Chancellor of Britain, about visibility, publicity, and scientific research. The fourth key factor was the development of the instrumental approach to experimentation and observation. This approach, of course, was based on the works of the Muslim chemist Jabir. Instrumental examination helped to spread the new discoveries. According to the author, “the fifth factor was an atmosphere of tolerance and plurality rather than conformism and the dichotomy between state and Orthodoxy, as well as support for a new science of the Anglican Church” (Goldstone 45-78). Britain became a platform, allowing to unite different groups on the principle of tolerance. In 1689, British Anglicans, Irish Protestants, Scottish Presbyterians, French Calvinists played a vital role in the scientific and engineering achievements of 18th and 19th century in Britain. The sixth key was stable enterprise support and close social relationships between entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers and skilled workers. Only after the British had shown the importance of pluralism, technical education, experimental science and innovation in Commerce, which is based on a scientific design for economic progress, this was to imitate the rest of Europe. It started with a rapidly development and economic growth, based on a skilled labour force, liberty of thoughts, technical innovations and the introduction of scientific design in the industry. In short, in order to the new approach to knowledge originated and spread in Europe, it dominated the world after 1500.
Works Cited
Goldstone, J. Why Europe? The Rise of the West in World History, 1500-1850. June 17, 2008
Spielvogel, J. Western Civilization: A Brief History. 1999.
Coppolaro, L., and McKenzie, F. A Global History of Trade and Conflict Since 1500. 2013
