What Was the Most Important Reason for the Growth of Western Economic and Political Power after 1750 - Assignment Example

? WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON FOR THE GROWTH OF WESTERN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL POWER AFTER C.1750? By Lecturer: of Affiliation: City and State: Date: What Was The Most Important Reason For The Growth Of Western Economic And Political Power After C.1750? The economic development and political governance after 1750 led to swift development changes in the many parts of Western Europe. The main cause associated with these rapid economic and political changes was associated with the industrial revolution. Many scholars argue that industrialization process was the leading cause for increased economic, social and political changes in the Western. In fact, westerners experienced the tremendous ongoing growth period after 1750 epoch, which was marked as the first notable divergence time. This was the period when the westerners started experiencing increased per capita income and sustained growth across diverse regions globally. This made economies such as Asia and Eastern Europe affluent but Western Europe became prosperous than their counterparts. Therefore, this essay focuses on industrial revolution as the main reason behind increasing economic growth and political power in the western after 1750 epoch. Industrial revolution in the western that was marked by rapid economic and political changes was the main reason behind increased development in the western before the 1750s. Diverse developments sparkled by the beginning of industrialization in the earlier period created economic and political changes. First, the arrival of empire building was one of the political aspects that triggered many changes in the western region. A striking example for a change is that of the empire development such as the Ottoman Empire who conquered Constantinople and the capital city of Byzantine (Clark 2007, p. 36). The Ottoman Empire extended their political powers to the Byzantine territories and beyond the Muslim power in charge of the leading Christian cities. Christian leaders in the west region turned to new ventures in order to remunerate for the forfeiture of political influence and struggle over the territories. Moreover, the spread of democratic ideals during the late 17th period led to significant changes in many economies. For instance, the Great Britain developed after 1750 due to political power and economic changes that was a result of industrialization (Goldstone 2000, p. 176). Many regions started experiencing new development changes especially in architecture. Emerging differences among the medieval and earlier modern religious practices also led to significant changes in the economy due to political changes that was a result of industrialization. Many economies emphasized on the significant of scientific aspects that led to new development in the western religion. The western region emphasized on the greater capacity to sustain economic growth and political development over time. Thus, they concentrated on the use of technology as well as made significant changes in the political system that led to increased democratization in the workplace. Secondly, the steady progression resulted due to trading activities, which was associated by increased infrastructural development. Many westerners advanced their commercial trade especially the European along the Atlantic shore of Africa. They were inspired by the need to find the means through East Asia in commercial activities. The Atlantic Ocean commercial activities that ultimately led to crossings to Pacific marine led to better economic development. This is because of the changes in technology, trade and global interactions that brought many countries together. The new maritime technologies made global interactions possible; thus creating changes in the trading patterns across the globe. The slave commercial activities augmented because the European colonies in the United States relied profoundly on the slave commercial activities. Many merchants became richer through the slave trade activities as the slave trade activities were considered significant for contribution of the economic development in the Atlantic Ocean trade. The new commercial model significantly contributed to population and environmental alterations. This era was not only marked by economic changes but also cultural as well as intellectual development changes that were aided by European Renaissance, Enlightenment, Neo-Confucianism influences and protestant reformation. Findlay and Rourke (2007, p. 89) reveal the way international trade has shaped the industrial world. The authors offer systematic review, integrated and analytical historical account on the evolution of the international economy during the earlier modern period to the present. It emphasizes on the way global interactions between countries trading together and the way such interactions contributed significantly to world economic development. For instance, the international trades especially the flows of commodities from Europe to China and to the rest of the Asian markets are among the most significant aspects that necessitated economic growth in the West. Findlay and Rourke (2007, p. 78) argue on the way politics determined trade, but trade also helped in determining politics in the West. The mutual dependence of power and peaceful voluntary exchange, as well as, allocation of scarce resources by the politicians was the main aspects that necessitated economic growth in the West. Findlay and Rourke also focus on successful waves of globalization that took place during the past centuries; thus, they keenly concentrate on political and technological causes as the main cause behind the rise of the West. The authors reveal the way development of the international economy has been linked with the global business deal and geopolitics. They also indicate on the way war and use of gunpowder military tools have been the critical determinants behind the expansion of the international trade; thus gave rise to increased economic development not only in the West but also across the globe. Jones (2003, p. 123) attempts to reveal the way technological and political powers are the main cause for economic growth in the Western Europe. In his book known as the European Miracle, Jones links economic and political developments as the significant aspects that necessitated the rise of Europe into powerful economic state. New use of armed technologies comprised the third progression that played significant roles in identifying the new structure for political and economic growth after 1750s. The westerners started using compasses and new map-reading devices that were pioneered by the Arabs people and Chinese. They also learned on the way of designing advanced sailing ships. The guns and gunpowder introduced by Chinese were among the military technologies that were adopted by the westerners (Elvin 1984, p. 372). These military technologies’ played significant roles in the creation of new political empires within the Western religion and overseas; hence creating new political powers associated with substantial development activities in the key areas. The military technologies created substantial changes and every society reacted differently towards political changes depending on existing traditions and world position. However, the military changes led to broad changes in the new global economy through changing the initial globalization face. It led to new biological changes and created large political units as well as diplomatic interactions. The political advancement after the 1750s saw the considerable alterations in the European governments that they established in the new globe. For instance, the gunpowder empires emerged in other leading empires and created new political powers. This led to political and social transformation within and across the globe; thus creating new political powers associated with increased political development. The European Empires were governed by rules with only timid grasp of political authority in the midst of 1450 to 1750. They were also patchy, and political arrangements were detained by feudal ties. However, the new changes in the political power that was aided by the industrial revolution led to political transformation of many empires. The political authorities now become seized in the hands of the federal government. Although, some old feudal rulers amassed enough authority to allow empires to sponsor the expensive sea voyages necessary for the colonial period, new governmental power emerged in some countries such as Spain, France and England. This led to varied changes in the political system; thus, the power was held by the centralized government rather than feudal rulers. In addition, the new government monarchy emerged with new rules of financing their ambitions, which include imposing fees, taxes and fines. These enabled many monarchies to improve in terms of economic growth. Some states such as Spain and France advanced into supreme governments because of newly powerful government structure. The totalitarianism was the belief for the heavenly or God-given supremacy to rule people. According to the divine theory, rulers served and lieutenants of God on earth but not gods. Thus, in such states where this heavenly theory applied, no one had the right to split policymaking authority with the kings. For instance, absolutism in France was influenced by Cardinal Richelieu (Landes 2006, p. 139). Elsewhere in places such as Netherlands and England, different government models emerged that replace absolutism monarchies. These new political tragedy aspects led to innovative changes in the political structure. However, with the supreme and legitimate monarchies, the federal government in the western was the most significant political supremacy for structuring the powerful state. Without the centralized government, the construction of powerful empires across the globe could have been inevitable. Hall (1990, p. 134) reveals the central concern for the rise of the West whereby he surveys the four principal civilizations in Europe, China, India and the Islamic world. The modern world, which is the world of industrialism with strong industrialization emphasis concentrate on the 20th century, began from the late 17th. The agrarian civilizations in the earlier modern period led to expansion of industries for processing agricultural commodities, and as the scientific knowledge increased in the western, diverse changes began to take place. However, many critics criticize Hall’s work as old fashioned because Hall argues that liberty is significant as power in Europe that led to its rise as an industrial economy (Hall 1990, p. 149). Goldstone in his article shifts the debating argument over the factors that have been argued such as cultural, geographic and other aspects towards the rise of West. However, Goldstone argues that there were no casual factors for the rise of Western Europe but rather an extraordinarily accidental combination of events that took place in the late 17th century (Goldstone 2000, p. 175). These events such as parliamentary aspects, Newtonian science, Church reformation and other Asian civilizations placed England at the forefront to industrialization and democratic state. Without these aspects, Europe could not have emerged as a powerful political and economic state because other countries such as China could have developed as the powerful states but due to lack of these peculiar accidents, it was left behind by England in terms of economic development (Landes, 1998, p. 123). In conclusion, industrial revolution as the main reason behind increasing economic growth and political power in the western after 1750 epoch. The arrival of empire building was one of the political aspects that triggered many changes in the western region. The steady progression also resulted due to trading activities, which was associated by increased infrastructural development. New use of armed technologies comprised the third progression that played significant roles in identifying the new structure for political and economic growth. The new government monarchy emerged with new rules of financing their ambitions, which include imposing fees, taxes and fines. New political aspects led to innovative changes in the political structure; thus contributing to increased advancement in the West. Bibliography Clark, G. (2007). A farewell to alms: A brief economic history of the world. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Elvin, M. (May 01, 1984). Why China Failed to Create an Endogenous Industrial Capitalism: A Critique of Max Weber's Explanation. Theory and Society, 13, 3, 379-391. Findlay, R., & O'Rourke, K. H. (2007). Power and plenty: Trade, war, and the world economy in the second millennium. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press. Goldstone, J. A. (January 01, 2000). The Rise of the West-or Not? A Revision to Socio- economic History. Sociological Theory, 18, 2, 175-194. Hall, J. A. (1990). Powers and liberties: The causes and consequences of the rise of the West. Berkeley: University of California Press. Jones, E. L. (2003). The European miracle: Environments, economies, and geopolitics in the history of Europe and Asia. Cambridge [Eng.: Cambridge University Press. Landes, D. S. (1998). The wealth and poverty of nations: Why some are so rich and some so poor. New York: W.W. Norton. Landes, D. S. (2006). ‘Why Europe and the West? Why Not China?’The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Spring,Vol. 20, No. 2. Read More