The Great Divergence

Definition

The Great Divergence refers to the period starting in the late 18th century when Western Europe and parts of North America experienced rapid economic growth and technological advancement, leading to a significant gap between these regions and other parts of the world, particularly Asia. This divergence is crucial to understanding the historical trends in global development, highlighting how different regions developed at vastly different rates and the implications this has for contemporary economic inequalities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Great Divergence began in the late 18th century with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, which transformed economies and societies in Western Europe.
2. Technological innovations, such as steam engines and mechanized manufacturing, played a crucial role in accelerating economic growth in Europe and North America.
3. As Western nations industrialized, they expanded their empires through colonialism, extracting resources and labor from colonized regions, which further widened economic gaps.
4. The divergence had lasting effects on global development patterns, with many countries in Asia and Africa lagging behind in terms of industrialization and wealth accumulation.
5. Contemporary discussions around economic development often reference the Great Divergence to address ongoing inequalities and propose strategies for closing the gap between developed and developing nations.

Review Questions

• How did the Industrial Revolution contribute to the Great Divergence between Western Europe and other parts of the world?
  • The Industrial Revolution was a key driver of the Great Divergence as it introduced new technologies and production methods that significantly boosted productivity in Western Europe. This era saw the transition from agrarian economies to industrial powerhouses, allowing countries like Britain to amass wealth and influence. In contrast, many regions in Asia remained largely agrarian and did not experience similar industrial growth, leading to stark economic disparities that defined global development for centuries.
• Discuss the role of colonialism in exacerbating the Great Divergence between developed and developing regions.
  • Colonialism played a significant role in widening the gap caused by the Great Divergence by allowing European powers to exploit resources from colonized countries. By extracting raw materials and leveraging cheap labor from these regions, colonial powers fueled their own industrial growth while stifling local economies. This exploitation not only hindered development in colonized areas but also established a legacy of economic dependency that persists today, further entrenching global inequalities.
• Evaluate the implications of the Great Divergence on contemporary global economic inequalities and potential strategies for addressing these issues.
  • The implications of the Great Divergence continue to resonate today, as many developing nations struggle with poverty and underdevelopment compared to their wealthier counterparts. This historical context is crucial for understanding current global economic inequalities. Strategies for addressing these issues include fostering sustainable economic growth through technology transfer, education, and fair trade practices. Recognizing historical injustices can also inform policies aimed at promoting equitable development that addresses both past grievances and present-day disparities.

Related terms

Industrial Revolution: A period of major industrialization during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that began in Britain and spread to other parts of the world, marked by the shift from agrarian economies to industrialized and urbanized societies.

Colonialism: The practice of acquiring control over foreign territories and peoples, often resulting in significant economic and cultural impacts on both the colonizers and the colonized, contributing to global inequalities.

Globalization: The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or operate on an international scale, leading to interconnected economies and cultures.