TASK 2

1. Explain the cultural factor behind the European ascendancy.

According to Max Weber, religious factors were crucial to European economic growth,
and his theory focused on Calvinism, which encouraged Europeans to be thrifty,
rational and concerned with material gain.
Another theory is that learning the best from others is essential for growth. This theory
comes from Sowell's point of view, which said that other countries were increasingly
trying to imitate the British.
But other historians think that European ascendancy is thanks to plunder and pillage of
foreign lands.

2. Discuss the cultural explanation for the Great Divergence.

The Great Divergence was not simply caused by European culture. It was because a
business-friendly, open and innovative economy was created.

3. The Economist mentions two dates for the Great Divergence. From your point of
view, which is more accurate?
Income levels in Asia and Europe would have been similar until 1800 and the
divergence occurred during the last two centuries (19th and 20th), because until the
end of the 18th century there were still no major differences between the standard of
living of the inhabitants of Britain and certain maritime provinces of China.