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Quote 130 of 521

Why did Western Europeans come to dominate the world?

Historian Paul M. Kennedy, in The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
(1987), says western Europe had three big advantages:

1. Political and military pluralism. In contrast to the empires of
the Orient, no single power dominated Europe. European states never
got fat and happy but rather searched for ever more efficient ways
to snuff their enemies.

2. A free-market economy. Merchants and entrepreneurs made money,
which kings needed to buy pikestaffs and cannonballs. They were
oppressed everywhere by the ungrateful warrior class. In pluralistic
Europe, however, hassled entrepreneurs could simply move to some
neighboring state, which became prosperous and powerful as a result.
Eventually even the stupidest European princeling realized it was in
his interest to leave the business types alone. Merchants were also
quick to grasp the moneymaking potential of colonial trade. 

3. Intellectual liberty. As another consequence of pluralism,
scientists and other scholars were (relatively) free to advance the
arts and sciences. This had obvious benefits for the economy, and
occasionally some genius allowed to do his thing would come up with
an atom bomb.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970620.html

Tags: freemarketeconomy westerneuropeans paulmkennedy atombomb colonialtrade warriorclass businesstypes moneymaking pluralism riseandfall westerneurope historian enemies genius scientists merchants consequence money