The European Miracle
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| - | '''''The European Miracle: Environments, Economies and Geopolitics in the History of Europe and Asia''''' is a book written by [[Eric Jones (economic historian)|Eric Jones]] in 1981 to refer to the [[Great Divergence|sudden rise of Europe]] from comparatively backward origins during the [[early Middle Ages]]. Ahead of previously dominant and more promising competitors from the [[Islamic empire|Islamic]] and [[Chinese empire|Chinese]] civilizations, Europe steadily rose since the [[Early Modern period]] to a complete domination of world trade and politics that remained unchallenged until the early [[20th century]]. | + | '''''The European Miracle: Environments, Economies and Geopolitics in the History of Europe and Asia''''' is a book written by [[Eric Jones (economic historian)|Eric Jones]] in 1981 to refer to the [[Great Divergence|sudden rise of Europe]] during the [[late Middle Ages]]. Ahead of the [[Caliphate|Islamic]] and [[History of China#Imperial era|Chinese]] civilizations, Europe steadily rose since the [[Early Modern period]] to a complete domination of world trade and politics that remained unchallenged until the early 20th century. |
| This process started with the [[Age of discovery|first European contacts]] and subsequent [[colonization]] of great expanses of the world. The [[industrial revolution]] further reinforced it. | This process started with the [[Age of discovery|first European contacts]] and subsequent [[colonization]] of great expanses of the world. The [[industrial revolution]] further reinforced it. | ||
| - | Jones' book gave rise to the term ''European miracle''. It is closely related to the idea of the [[Great divergence]], which rather than on the origins of the rise of Europe during the [[Renaissance]] focuses on the culmination of the process in the 18th century and the subsequent "[[British empire|imperial century]]" of [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]]. | + | Jones's book gave rise to the term ''European miracle''. It is closely related to the idea of the [[Great divergence]], which rather than on the origins of the rise of Europe during the [[Renaissance]] focuses on the culmination of the process in the 18th century and the subsequent "[[British empire#The imperial century .281815.E2.80.931914.29|imperial century]]" of [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]]. |
| - | + | ||
| - | The attention attracted by the book has also resulted in making it "into the whipping boy of those who have resented what they viewed as historiographical triumphalism, [[eurocentricity]], and even racism." ([[Joel Mokyr]], ''[[The Enduring Riddle of the European Miracle]]'' 2002) | + | |
| - | It has been attacked by thinkers such as [[James Blaut]], [[Andre Gunder Frank]], [[Kenneth Pomeranz]], and [[John M. Hobson]]. They accuse Jones of [[Eurocentrism]] and "cultural racism" | + | |
| ==Argument== | ==Argument== | ||
| - | Jones aims at providing an answer to the question of "Why did modern states and economies develop first in the peripheral and late-coming culture of Europe?" Jones attempts to argue a concatenation of various factors, in particular the interplay of natural and economic factors which have worked to Europe's advantage and to the disadvantage of its Asian competitors. | + | Jones aims at providing an answer to the question of "Why did modern states and economies develop first in the peripheral and late-coming culture of Europe?" Jones attempts to argue a concatenation of various factors, in particular the interplay of natural and economic factors which have worked to Europe's advantage and to the disadvantage of its Asian competitors. |
| + | |||
| + | The European miracle theory purports that because the European family was nuclear, women married late, and had few children, Europe's population was better controlled than the rest of the world, which "multiplied insensately" according to Jones. This meant that Europe was not vulnerable to [[Malthusian Catastrophe|Malthusian Crises]] and therefore able to form a progressive, [[capitalism|capitalist]] society. | ||
| - | Jones' theories can be seen as building on the work of earlier thinkers such as [[Max Weber]], [[Immanuel Wallerstein]], [[Georg Hegel]], [[Adam Smith]], and [[Karl Marx]]. Weber's idea of the ''[[The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic]]'' and Hegel's [[Phenomenology of Spirit|Spirit]] were certainly influential. Wallerstein's idea of a '''world-economy''' and [[World-system theory|world-system]] originating in Europe also comes through in European miracle theory. | ||
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| - | The idea of a unique European family structure is also a central tenet of the European miracle theory. Purportedly, the European family was nuclear, women married late, and had few children. Europe understood how to control their population while the rest of the world, to quote Jones, "multiplied insensately." This meant that Europe was not vulnerable to [[Malthusian Catastrophe|Malthusian Crises]] and therefore able to form a progressive, [[capitalism|capitalist]] society. | ||
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| [[Urbanization]] is also adduced as a factor. Crucially, these cities were also ''semi-autonomous'', especially the [[Italian city-states]]. The growth of banking, accounting and general financial infrastructure in such cities is seen as unique and vital to the rise of Europe. | [[Urbanization]] is also adduced as a factor. Crucially, these cities were also ''semi-autonomous'', especially the [[Italian city-states]]. The growth of banking, accounting and general financial infrastructure in such cities is seen as unique and vital to the rise of Europe. | ||
| ==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
| - | Jones' 1981 study is one of the most influential books dedicated to the question of European exceptionalism. | + | Jones's 1981 study is one of the most influential books dedicated to the question of [[Eurocentrism|European exceptionalism]]. Some historians, in particular of the "California school" have felt that Jones has over-stated the degree of difference between Europe and non-European regions on the eve of the Industrial Revolution.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}} |
| - | Some historians, in particular of the "[[California school]]" have felt that Jones has over-stated the | + | |
| - | degree of difference between Europe and non-European regions on the eve of | + | |
| - | the Industrial Revolution. | + | |
| - | The attention attracted by the book has also resulted in making it "into the whipping boy of those who have resented what they viewed as historiographical triumphalism, eurocentricity, and even racism." ([[Joel Mokyr]], ''The Enduring Riddle of the European Miracle'' 2002) | + | The attention attracted by the book has also resulted in it being described by American historian [[Joel Mokyr]] as "the whipping boy of those who have resented what they viewed as historiographical triumphalism, eurocentricity, and even racism." It has been attacked by thinkers such as [[James Blaut]], [[Andre Gunder Frank]], [[Kenneth Pomeranz]], and [[John M. Hobson]]. They accuse Jones of [[Eurocentrism]] and "cultural racism" (Blaut's term). |
| - | It has been attacked by thinkers such as [[James Blaut]], [[Andre Gunder Frank]], [[Kenneth Pomeranz]], and [[John M. Hobson]]. They accuse Jones of [[Eurocentrism]] and "cultural racism" (Blaut's term). | + | |
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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| * [[Early Modern Europe]] | * [[Early Modern Europe]] | ||
| * [[Age of Exploration]] | * [[Age of Exploration]] | ||
| + | * [[Dutch Golden Age]] | ||
| * [[Spanish Golden Age]] | * [[Spanish Golden Age]] | ||
| * [[Pan-European identity]] | * [[Pan-European identity]] | ||
| * [[Eurocentrism]] | * [[Eurocentrism]] | ||
| * [[Great divergence]] | * [[Great divergence]] | ||
| - | * [[The Enlightenment]] & [[Separation of church and state]] | + | * [[The Enlightenment]] |
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 19:47, 20 May 2019
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The European Miracle: Environments, Economies and Geopolitics in the History of Europe and Asia is a book written by Eric Jones in 1981 to refer to the sudden rise of Europe during the late Middle Ages. Ahead of the Islamic and Chinese civilizations, Europe steadily rose since the Early Modern period to a complete domination of world trade and politics that remained unchallenged until the early 20th century.
This process started with the first European contacts and subsequent colonization of great expanses of the world. The industrial revolution further reinforced it.
Jones's book gave rise to the term European miracle. It is closely related to the idea of the Great divergence, which rather than on the origins of the rise of Europe during the Renaissance focuses on the culmination of the process in the 18th century and the subsequent "imperial century" of Britain.
Argument
Jones aims at providing an answer to the question of "Why did modern states and economies develop first in the peripheral and late-coming culture of Europe?" Jones attempts to argue a concatenation of various factors, in particular the interplay of natural and economic factors which have worked to Europe's advantage and to the disadvantage of its Asian competitors.
The European miracle theory purports that because the European family was nuclear, women married late, and had few children, Europe's population was better controlled than the rest of the world, which "multiplied insensately" according to Jones. This meant that Europe was not vulnerable to Malthusian Crises and therefore able to form a progressive, capitalist society.
Urbanization is also adduced as a factor. Crucially, these cities were also semi-autonomous, especially the Italian city-states. The growth of banking, accounting and general financial infrastructure in such cities is seen as unique and vital to the rise of Europe.
Reception
Jones's 1981 study is one of the most influential books dedicated to the question of European exceptionalism. Some historians, in particular of the "California school" have felt that Jones has over-stated the degree of difference between Europe and non-European regions on the eve of the Industrial Revolution.Template:Citation needed
The attention attracted by the book has also resulted in it being described by American historian Joel Mokyr as "the whipping boy of those who have resented what they viewed as historiographical triumphalism, eurocentricity, and even racism." It has been attacked by thinkers such as James Blaut, Andre Gunder Frank, Kenneth Pomeranz, and John M. Hobson. They accuse Jones of Eurocentrism and "cultural racism" (Blaut's term).
See also
- Western empires
- Early Modern Europe
- Age of Exploration
- Dutch Golden Age
- Spanish Golden Age
- Pan-European identity
- Eurocentrism
- Great divergence
- The Enlightenment
