Exceptionalism and Industrialisation : Britain and Its European Rivals, 1688–1815

This 2004 book explores the question of British exceptionalism in the period from the Glorious Revolution to the Congress of Vienna. Leading historians examine why Great Britain emerged from years of sustained competition with its European rivals in a discernible position of hegemony in the domains of naval power, empire, global commerce, agricultural efficiency, industrial production, fiscal capacity and advanced technology. They deal with Britain's unique path to industrial revolution and distinguish four themes on the interactions between its emergence as a great power and as the first industrial nation. First, they highlight growth and industrial change, the interconnections between agriculture, foreign trade and industrialisation. Second, they examine technological change and, especially, Britain's unusual inventiveness. Third, they study her institutions and their role in facilitating economic growth. Fourth and finally, they explore British military and naval supremacy, showing how this was achieved and how it contributed to Britain's economic supremacy. This Book Explores The Question Of British Exceptionalism In The Period From The Glorious Revolution To The Congress Of Vienna. Leading Historians Examine Why Great Britain Emerged From Years Of Sustained Competition With Its European Rivals In A Discernible Position Of Hegemony In The Domains Of Naval Power, Empire, Global Commerce, Agricultural Efficiency, Industrial Production, Fiscal Capacity And Advanced Technology. They Deal With Britain's Unique Path To Industrial Revolution And Distinguish Four Themes On The Interactions Between Its Emergence As A Great Power And As The First Industrial Nation.--jacket. Britain2s Economic Ascendancy In A European Context / Robert C. Allen -- Comparative Patterns Of Colonial Trade: Britain And Its Rivals / Javier Cuenca Esteban -- European Farmers And The British Agricultural Revolution / James Simpson -- Precocious British Industrialisation: A General-equilibrium Perspective / N.f.r. Crafts And C. Knick Harley -- The European Origins Of British Technological Predominance / Christine Macleod -- Invention In The Industrial Revolution: The Case Of Cotton / James Thomson -- Continental Responses To British Innovations In The Iron Industry During The Eighteenth And Early Nineteenth Centuries / Rainer Fremdling -- The Monetary, Financial And Political Architecture Of Europe, 164861815 / Larry Neal -- Towards The Comparative Fiscal History Of Britain And France During The Long Eighteenth Century / Richard Bonney -- Money And Economic Development In Eighteenth-century England / Forrest Capie -- Naval Power: What Gave The British Navy Superiority? / Daniel A. Baugh -- Institutional Change And British Supremacy, 1650-1850: Some Reflections / Stanley L. Engerman -- Laudatio Patritii. Patrick O'brien And European Economic History / Gianni Toniolo. Edited By Leandro Prados De La Escosura. This Volume Originated In A Conference Held On 26-7 March, 2001 In Madrid, On 'britain And Its Rivals' ... To Honour ... Patrick Karl O'brien, ... [and] Sponsored By Fundación Bbva--p. Xv. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 294-323) And Index. Cover ......Page 1 Title Page ......Page 4 Copyright ......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 List of tables and figures......Page 10 List of contributors......Page 13 Acknowledgements......Page 16 Introduction: Was British industrialisation exceptional?......Page 18 Part I The origins of British primacy......Page 30 1 Britain’s economic ascendancy in a European context......Page 32 2 Comparative patterns of colonial trade: Britain and its rivals......Page 52 Part II Agriculture and industrialisation......Page 82 3 European farmers and the British ‘agricultural revolution’......Page 84 4 Precocious British industrialisation: a general-equilibrium perspective......Page 101 Part III Technological change......Page 124 5 The European origins of British technological predominance......Page 126 6 Invention in the Industrial Revolution: the case of cotton......Page 142 7 Continental responses to British innovations in the iron industry during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries......Page 160 Part IV Institutions and growth......Page 186 8 The monetary, financial and political architecture of Europe, 1648–1815......Page 188 9 Towards the comparative fiscal history of Britain and France during the ‘long’ eighteenth century......Page 206 10 Money and economic development in eighteenth-century England......Page 231 Part V War and hegemony......Page 248 11 Naval power: what gave the British navy superiority?......Page 250 Conclusions......Page 274 Institutional change and British supremacy, 1650–1850: some reflections......Page 276 Laudatio patritii: Patrick O’Brien and European economic history......Page 298 References......Page 309 Index......Page 339 Leading historians examine why Britain emerged from years of sustained competition with European rivals in a position of dominance within the domains of naval power, empire, global commerce, agricultural efficiency, industrial production, fiscal capacity and advanced technology. They plot Britain's unique path to the Industrial Revolution throughout the interconnections between agriculture, foreign trade and industrialization, unusual inventiveness, the role of institutions, and the contribution of military and naval superiority. This 2004 book discusses British exceptionalism in the period from 1688 to 1815. Leading historians examine why Britain was able to establish hegemony over other European powers and her unique path to industrialisation. Their findings shed light on Britain's emergence as a great power and as the first industrial nation. This 2004 book debates British exceptionalism in the period from the Glorious Revolution to the Congress of Vienna