The Great Divergence: Key Concepts and Factors

Flashcards summarizing key concepts and factors related to the Great Divergence in Western and Chinese history as discussed in the lecture.

What does the term 'Great Divergence' refer to?

The sharp rise of Western wealth and power relative to that of Asia, particularly China, during the 19th century.

What was the Manchu Empire?

The last imperial dynasty of China, which succeeded the Ming in 1644 and lasted until 1912.

What does the term 'Great Divergence' refer to?

The sharp rise of Western wealth and power relative to that of Asia, particularly China, during the 19th century.

What was the Manchu Empire?

The last imperial dynasty of China, which succeeded the Ming in 1644 and lasted until 1912.

During which emperor's reign did the Manchu Empire reach its economic and cultural high point?

The Qianlong Emperor.

What critical idea does Pomeranz reject in explaining the Great Divergence?

He rejects the idea that 'culture' alone explains the Great Divergence.

What were some advantages that Britain had that promoted technological innovation?

Fewer regulatory constraints, a developed scientific community, access to funding, quick publication of discoveries, patent protections, and a free market.

How did the standards of living compare between China and parts of Europe from 1750 to 1800?

Production levels, worker earnings, and consumption of daily items were comparable between China and many prosperous parts of Europe.

What structural difference contributed to the decline of the Chinese industrial economy?

The slow rate of migration from rural interior areas to more prosperous coastal regions.

What was the role of rural women's work in China's economy?

Much of China’s cloth production was done in rural areas by women, limiting migration to urban centers.

What were the two critical ecological factors in Europe that avoided land constraints?

The availability of coal deposits and the development of colonies.

What did the proximity of quality coal deposits enable in Britain's industrial development?

It facilitated the development of steam-based industry and overland transport.

What role did colonies play in the agricultural economy of Europe?

Colonies provided expansive lands for 'land intensive' raw material inputs, driving urban-industrial migration.

How did the Great Divergence relate to population pressures in Europe versus China?

Coal and colonies allowed Europe to escape Malthusian traps while China faced increasing land constraints as population soared.

How did foreign intervention impact China's decline in the 19th century?

It hastened China's decline through crises such as the Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Boxer Rebellion.

What was the notable shift in the world system during the last half of the 19th century?

A shift towards a Western-dominated international order, evident in places like China and India.