Efflorescences and Economic Growth in World History  

"The breakdown of hierarchies, and the onset of progress, were also once encapsulated into two great breakthroughs in Europe: the Industrial Revolution and the French (and other European) revolutions. The former gave rise to a massive urban working class, thus altering the economic hierarchy; the latter eliminated the privileges of hereditary aristocracy and rulers, thus destroying the old political hierarchy. After the eighteenth century, Europe could thus escape its feudal, agrarian heritage and move quickly to become fully modern, and enjoy the full benefits of modern economic growth.

I apologize if such a blunt and boldfaced recapitulation of old belief schemas is embarrassing or seemingly absurd. Virtually all historians and sociologists have now abandoned these frameworks (although not all—in two recent bestsellers, by distinguished and prominent academic scholars David Landes [1998] and Jared Diamond [1997], one can recognize features of the above discourse). Yet it is important to recall these viewpoints, because I believe that in response to attack these dichotomies have only been stretched, and not snapped; they need to be destroyed altogether." -- "Efflorescences and Economic Growth in World History".