Why Did Europe Conquer the World? (The Princeton Economic History of the Western World Book 54)

Between 1492 and 1914, Europeans conquered 84 percent of the globe. But why did Europe rise to the top, when for centuries the Chinese, Japanese, Ottomans, and South Asians were far more advanced? Why didn't these powers establish global dominance? In __Why Did Europe Conquer the World?__, distinguished economic historian Philip Hoffman demonstrates that conventional explanations--such as geography, epidemic disease, and the Industrial Revolution--fail to provide answers. Arguing instead for the pivotal role of economic and political history, Hoffman shows that if variables had been at all different, Europe would not have achieved critical military innovations, and another power could have become master of the world. In vivid detail, Hoffman sheds light on the two millennia of economic, political, and historical changes that set European states on a distinctive path of development and military rivalry. Compared to their counterparts in China, Japan, South Asia, and the Middle East, European leaders--whether chiefs, lords, kings, emperors, or prime ministers--had radically different incentives, which drove them to make war. These incentives, which Hoffman explores using an economic model of political costs and financial resources, resulted in astonishingly rapid growth in Europe's military sector from the Middle Ages on, and produced an insurmountable lead in gunpowder technology. The consequences determined which states established colonial empires or ran the slave trade, and even which economies were the first to industrialize. Debunking traditional arguments, __Why Did Europe Conquer the World?__ reveals the startling reasons behind Europe's historic global supremacy. In Vivid Detail, Hoffman Sheds Light On The Two Millennia Of Economic, Political, And Historical Changes That Set European States On A Distinctive Path Of Development And Military Rivalry. Compared To Their Counterparts In China, Japan, South Asia, And The Middle East, European Leaders--whether Chiefs, Lords, Kings, Emperors, Or Prime Ministers--had Radically Different Incentives, Which Drove Them To Make War. These Incentives, Which Hoffman Explores Using An Economic Model Of Political Costs And Financial Resources, Resulted In Astonishingly Rapid Growth In Europe's Military Sector From The Middle Ages On, And Produced An Insurmountable Lead In Gunpowder Technology. The Consequences Determined Which States Established Colonial Empires Or Ran The Slave Trade, And Even Which Economies Were The First To Industrialize.--publisher's Web Site. Introduction -- How The Tournament In Early Modern Europe Made Conquest Possible -- Why The Rest Of Eurasia Fell Behind -- Ultimate Causes : Explaining The Difference Between Western Europe And The Rest Of Eurasia -- From The Gunpowder Technology To Private Expeditions -- Technological Change And Armed Peace In Nineteenth-century Europe -- Conclusion : The Price Of Conquest -- Appendix A : Model Of War And Technical Change Via Learning By Doing -- Appendix B : Using Prices To Measure Productivity Growth In The Military Sector -- Appendix C : Model Of Political Learning -- Appendix D : Data For Tables 4.1 And 4.2 -- Appendix E : Model Of Armed Peace And Technical Change Via Research. Philip T. Hoffman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 241-261) And Index. The startling economic and political answers behind Europe's historical dominance Between 1492 and 1914, Europeans conquered 84 percent of the globe. But why did Europe establish global dominance, when for centuries the Chinese, Japanese, Ottomans, and South Asians were far more advanced? In Why Did Europe Conquer the World? , Philip Hoffman demonstrates that conventional explanations—such as geography, epidemic disease, and the Industrial Revolution—fail to provide answers. Arguing instead for the pivotal role of economic and political history, Hoffman shows that if certain variables had been different, Europe would have been eclipsed, and another power could have become master of the world. Hoffman sheds light on the two millennia of economic, political, and historical changes that set European states on a distinctive path of development, military rivalry, and war. This resulted in astonishingly rapid growth in Europe's military sector, and produced an insurmountable lead in gunpowder technology. The consequences determined which states established colonial empires or ran the slave trade, and even which economies were the first to industrialize. Debunking traditional arguments, Why Did Europe Conquer the World? reveals the startling reasons behind Europe's historic global supremacy. La jaquette indique : "In vivid detail, Hoffman sheds light on the two millennia of economic, political, and historical changes that set European states on a distinctive path of development and military rivalry. Compared to their counterparts in China, Japan, South Asia, and the Middle East, European leaders--whether chiefs, lords, kings, emperors, or prime ministers--had radically different incentives, which drove them to make war. These incentives, which Hoffman explores using an economic model of political costs and financial resources, resulted in astonishingly rapid growth in Europe's military sector from the Middle Ages on, and produced an insurmountable lead in gunpowder technology. The consequences determined which states established colonial empires or ran the slave trade, and even which economies were the first to industrialize."