How Europe Became So Rich

During the 16th century, Europe experienced an unprecedented revolution in knowledge and industry—an advancement that other great nations like China or the Indian subcontinent, despite their great powers comparable to that of Europe, could never bring about. Then what was (were) the exceptional factor(s) among all other nearly equivalent factors—like power, politics, or land area—between Europe and other giant civilizations?

Yes, Europe was powerful. But its power was fragmented after the mighty Roman Empire fell. And that was the turning point for the region we now call Europe. With its once central power of the Roman Empire split into parts, Europe became a sum of multiple authorities—nations that later engaged in competition ranging from politics to science and research.

Intellectual minds in Europe could no longer be controlled or subjugated—as had been seen before Europe was divided into parts—because if someone faced any objection to expressing his innovation in one country, he would have had ten more countries to move to for his intellectual freedom. This was, according to most historians, the most important factor that other great nations did not have in their time.

There were borders among European nations, but they were for the political leaders, not for intellectual people. Examples of authors and philosophers publishing their creations and thoughts in countries other than the ones they were living in are not scarce. In fact, this phenomenon was so obvious that it became almost a norm among European philosophers, and later natural scientists, to view Europe as a united whole in the field of science and civilization. An innovation or a scientific discovery made in one country was deeply investigated by experts of another country, and, if found correct, was utilized promptly without a second thought.

It was a free market for thinkers and researchers. Therefore, no matter how one’s nation viewed his literature, research, or innovation, there was always a larger market craving for them. Furthermore, the equipment—such as the microscope, and steam engine—that was invented during that time period boosted and eased scientific study, making the contemporary intellectual society accept a methodological approach in their study of science and mathematics.

Gradually, it became an automatic process—a process that, once started, began to fuel itself. However, had there been any slight difference in the fragmentation of power in Europe, or in the perfect timing of other factors, there might never have been the historical revolution we see today on the pages of history. There was high competition among the nations of Europe, but the competition for such knowledge is higher now, and will be the highest in the coming centuries—we are looking forward to the continuous enrichment of the world as a whole.

This summary is based on Joel Mokyr’s essay “How Europe Became So Rich” (Aeon), which explores how Europe's fragmented political landscape and open intellectual exchange fueled its scientific and industrial advancement. Main essay link: https://aeon.co/essays/how-did-europe-become-the-richest-part-of-the-world