The European miracle
Encyclopedia
The European Miracle: Environments, Economies and Geopolitics in the History of Europe and Asia is a book written by Eric Jones
in 1981 to refer to the sudden rise of Europe
during the late Middle Ages
. Ahead of the Islamic
and Chinese civilizations, Europe steadily rose since the Early Modern period
to a complete domination of world trade and politics that remained unchallenged until the early 20th century.
This process started with the first European contacts
and subsequent colonization of great expanses of the world. The industrial revolution
further reinforced it.
Jones's book gave rise to the term European miracle. It is closely related to the idea of the Great divergence
, which rather than on the origins of the rise of Europe during the Renaissance
focuses on the culmination of the process in the 18th century and the subsequent "imperial century" of Britain
.
Jones's theories can be seen as building on the work of earlier thinkers such as Max Weber
, Immanuel Wallerstein
, G. W. F. Hegel, Adam Smith
, and Karl Marx
. Weber's idea of the Protestant work ethic
and Hegel's Spirit
were certainly influential. Wallerstein's idea of a world-economy and world-system originating in Europe also comes through in European miracle theory.
The idea of a unique European family structure is also a central tenet of the European miracle theory. Purportedly, the European family was nuclear, women married late, and had few children. Europe understood how to control their population while the rest of the world, to quote Jones, "multiplied insensately." This meant that Europe was not vulnerable to Malthusian Crises
and therefore able to form a progressive, capitalist
society.
Urbanization
is also adduced as a factor. Crucially, these cities were also semi-autonomous, especially the Italian city-states
. The growth of banking, accounting and general financial infrastructure in such cities is seen as unique and vital to the rise of Europe.
Some historians, in particular of the "California school" have felt that Jones has over-stated the
degree of difference between Europe and non-European regions on the eve of
the Industrial Revolution.
The attention attracted by the book has also resulted in it being described by American historian Joel Mokyr
as "the whipping boy of those who have resented what they viewed as historiographical triumphalism, eurocentricity, and even racism." It has been attacked by thinkers such as James Blaut, Andre Gunder Frank
, Kenneth Pomeranz
, and John M. Hobson. They accuse Jones of Eurocentrism
and "cultural racism" (Blaut's term).
Eric Jones (economic historian)
Eric Jones is a British-Australian economist and historian, known for his 1981 book The European Miracle.-Biography:...
in 1981 to refer to the sudden rise of Europe
Great divergence
The Great Divergence, a term coined by Samuel Huntington , refers to the process by which the Western world The Great Divergence, a term coined by Samuel Huntington (also known as the European miracle, a term coined by Eric Jones in 1981), refers to the process by which the Western world The Great...
during the late Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
. Ahead of the Islamic
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
and Chinese civilizations, Europe steadily rose since the Early Modern period
Early modern period
In history, the early modern period of modern history follows the late Middle Ages. Although the chronological limits of the period are open to debate, the timeframe spans the period after the late portion of the Middle Ages through the beginning of the Age of Revolutions...
to a complete domination of world trade and politics that remained unchallenged until the early 20th century.
This process started with the first European contacts
Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration and the Great Navigations , was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with...
and subsequent colonization of great expanses of the world. The industrial revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
further reinforced it.
Jones's book gave rise to the term European miracle. It is closely related to the idea of the Great divergence
Great divergence
The Great Divergence, a term coined by Samuel Huntington , refers to the process by which the Western world The Great Divergence, a term coined by Samuel Huntington (also known as the European miracle, a term coined by Eric Jones in 1981), refers to the process by which the Western world The Great...
, which rather than on the origins of the rise of Europe during the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
focuses on the culmination of the process in the 18th century and the subsequent "imperial century" of Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
.
Argument
Jones aims at providing an answer to the question of "Why did modern states and economies develop first in the peripheral and late-coming culture of Europe?" Jones attempts to argue a concatenation of various factors, in particular the interplay of natural and economic factors which have worked to Europe's advantage and to the disadvantage of its Asian competitors.Jones's theories can be seen as building on the work of earlier thinkers such as Max Weber
Max Weber
Karl Emil Maximilian "Max" Weber was a German sociologist and political economist who profoundly influenced social theory, social research, and the discipline of sociology itself...
, Immanuel Wallerstein
Immanuel Wallerstein
Immanuel Maurice Wallerstein is a US sociologist, historical social scientist, and world-systems analyst...
, G. W. F. Hegel, Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations...
, and Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
. Weber's idea of the Protestant work ethic
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is a book written by Max Weber, a German sociologist, economist, and politician. Begun as a series of essays, the original German text was composed in 1904 and 1905, and was translated into English for the first time by Talcott Parsons in 1930...
and Hegel's Spirit
Phenomenology of Spirit
Phänomenologie des Geistes is one of G.W.F. Hegel's most important philosophical works. It is translated as The Phenomenology of Spirit or The Phenomenology of Mind due to the dual meaning in the German word Geist. The book's working title, which also appeared in the first edition, was Science of...
were certainly influential. Wallerstein's idea of a world-economy and world-system originating in Europe also comes through in European miracle theory.
The idea of a unique European family structure is also a central tenet of the European miracle theory. Purportedly, the European family was nuclear, women married late, and had few children. Europe understood how to control their population while the rest of the world, to quote Jones, "multiplied insensately." This meant that Europe was not vulnerable to Malthusian Crises
Malthusian catastrophe
A Malthusian catastrophe was originally foreseen to be a forced return to subsistence-level conditions once population growth had outpaced agricultural production...
and therefore able to form a progressive, capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
society.
Urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
is also adduced as a factor. Crucially, these cities were also semi-autonomous, especially the Italian city-states
Italian city-states
The Italian city-states were a political phenomenon of small independent states mostly in the central and northern Italian peninsula between the 10th and 15th centuries....
. The growth of banking, accounting and general financial infrastructure in such cities is seen as unique and vital to the rise of Europe.
Reception
Jones's 1981 study is one of the most influential books dedicated to the question of European exceptionalism.Some historians, in particular of the "California school" have felt that Jones has over-stated the
degree of difference between Europe and non-European regions on the eve of
the Industrial Revolution.
The attention attracted by the book has also resulted in it being described by American historian Joel Mokyr
Joel Mokyr
Joel Mokyr is an American economic historian. He is the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University....
as "the whipping boy of those who have resented what they viewed as historiographical triumphalism, eurocentricity, and even racism." It has been attacked by thinkers such as James Blaut, Andre Gunder Frank
Andre Gunder Frank
Andre Gunder Frank was a German-American economic historian and sociologist who promoted "dependency theory" after 1970 and "World Systems Theory" after 1984...
, Kenneth Pomeranz
Kenneth Pomeranz
Kenneth Pomeranz is the of History at the University of California, Irvine in the US. He received his B.A. from Cornell University in 1980 and his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1988, where he was a student of Jonathan Spence.-Research:...
, and John M. Hobson. They accuse Jones of Eurocentrism
Eurocentrism
Eurocentrism is the practice of viewing the world from a European perspective and with an implied belief, either consciously or subconsciously, in the preeminence of European culture...
and "cultural racism" (Blaut's term).
See also
- Western empires
- Early Modern EuropeEarly modern EuropeEarly modern Europe is the term used by historians to refer to a period in the history of Europe which spanned the centuries between the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, roughly the late 15th century to the late 18th century...
- Age of Exploration
- Dutch Golden AgeDutch Golden AgeThe Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
- Spanish Golden AgeSpanish Golden AgeThe Spanish Golden Age is a period of flourishing in arts and literature in Spain, coinciding with the political rise and decline of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty. El Siglo de Oro does not imply precise dates and is usually considered to have lasted longer than an actual century...
- Pan-European identityPan-European identityPan-European identity refers to the sense of personal identification with Europe. The most concrete examples of pan-europeanism are the European Union and the older Council of Europe...
- EurocentrismEurocentrismEurocentrism is the practice of viewing the world from a European perspective and with an implied belief, either consciously or subconsciously, in the preeminence of European culture...
- Great divergenceGreat divergenceThe Great Divergence, a term coined by Samuel Huntington , refers to the process by which the Western world The Great Divergence, a term coined by Samuel Huntington (also known as the European miracle, a term coined by Eric Jones in 1981), refers to the process by which the Western world The Great...
- The Enlightenment & Separation of church and stateSeparation of church and stateThe concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
External links
- European miracle, entry at the wiktionary