China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy

The relationship between China and Europe has been characterized by a complex and dynamic interplay of economic, political, and cultural exchanges. These interactions have spanned centuries and have played a pivotal role in shaping the development of the modern world economy.

The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy (The Princeton Economic History of the Western World Book 117)

by Kenneth Pomeranz

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2693 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	392 pages

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In the early centuries of the Common Era, China was a major economic power, boasting a thriving agricultural sector, a sophisticated manufacturing base, and an extensive trading network that spanned from East Asia to the Middle East. Europe, on the other hand, was a relatively underdeveloped region, with a largely agrarian economy and a limited commercial infrastructure.

Beginning in the 15th century, European explorers began to make contact with China, initiating a period of increased trade and cultural exchange between the two regions. This contact led to the of new commodities and technologies to both China and Europe, and helped to stimulate economic growth in both regions.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch established trading posts in China, which further increased the flow of goods and ideas between the two regions. European traders were particularly interested in Chinese silk, porcelain, and tea, while Chinese traders were interested in European textiles, clocks, and scientific instruments.

In the 18th century, the British East India Company emerged as the dominant European power in China. The East India Company established a monopoly on the trade of tea, which led to a massive increase in the flow of wealth from China to Britain.

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, had a profound impact on the economic relationship between China and Europe. European industrialists were eager to gain access to China's vast market, while Chinese consumers were eager to Free Download European manufactured goods.

In the 19th century, European powers began to carve out spheres of influence in China, which gave them control over key economic resources and markets. This period of European imperialism in China culminated in the Opium Wars of the 1840s and 1850s, which resulted in the opening of China to foreign trade and investment.

The 20th century saw the rise of nationalism and communism in China, which led to a shift in the country's economic relationship with Europe. In the early 20th century, China began to develop its own industrial base, and in the 1949, the People's Republic of China was founded.

In the post-World War II era, China's economic relationship with Europe has been characterized by a mix of cooperation and competition. China has become a major manufacturing hub for the world, while Europe has remained a key market for Chinese goods.

In the 21st century, China's economic rise has continued, and the country has emerged as a major economic power on the global stage. China's relationship with Europe is now more complex than ever before, as the two regions compete for economic dominance and cooperate on a range of global issues.

The economic relationship between China and Europe has been a key factor in the development of the modern world economy. This relationship has been characterized by a complex and dynamic interplay of trade, investment, and cultural exchange, and has played a pivotal role in shaping the economic destinies of both regions.

The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy (The Princeton Economic History of the Western World Book 117)

by Kenneth Pomeranz

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2693 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	392 pages

FREE