Recap

Question 1

What was the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution?

Answer 1

It (10,000 BC) marked the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, leading to the rise of surplus food production, settled societies, and the foundation for future urbanization and complex societies.

Question 2

What were the pros and cons of the Urban Revolution (3000 BC)?

Answer 2

It meant more food available, population growth, higher division of labor, development of complex socio-political structures.
But it cause pressure on natural resources, less varied diet, increase in diseases, higher taxation, and increased inequality.

Question 3

What was the Malthusian theory of population growth?

Answer 3

He theorized that population grows geometrically while food supply grows arithmetically, leading to resource shortages, rising prices, lower wages, and eventual checks on population growth through positive (famine, disease) or preventive (delayed marriage) measures.

Question 4

What factors contributed to the European Takeoff (1450-1550)?

Answer 4

European countries sought to expand beyond their “closed world” through geographic discoveries, opening new trade routes and creating a global economic system based on the integration of distant markets.

Question 5

What is the “Great Divergence”?

Answer 5

It refers to the period when Europe emerged as the richest region, overtaking Asia in terms of economic development, urbanization, trade dominance, and technological advancement, starting around the 1500s.

Question 6

What were the key pillars of the Industrial Revolution in Britain?

Answer 6

They included continuous population growth, income growth, productivity increases, the decline of the agricultural sector, global trade expansion, and the formation of a global market.

Question 7

What role did Mercantilism play in the rise of the British Empire?

Answer 7

It focused on accumulating wealth through trade surpluses, precious metals, and colonies. British policies like the Navigation Acts ensured that colonial resources fueled industrial growth and supported the empire’s global dominance.

Question 8

What were some key innovations of the First Industrial Revolution?

Answer 8

They included the smelting of ferrous metal using coke, James Watt’s improved steam engine, and the development of Arkwright’s Hydraulic Spinning Machine, leading to the rise of the factory system.

Question 9

How did the Second Industrial Revolution differ from the first?

Answer 9

It featured higher capital intensity, closer connections between science and industry, and new industrial sectors (e.g., steel, chemicals). It saw the rise of big businesses, mass production, and multinational corporations.

Question 10

What was Taylorism, and how did it influence industrial work?

Answer 10

It focused on the scientific organization of work to increase efficiency. It emphasized finding the best way to do tasks, training workers, and dividing labor into specialized roles.

Question 11

What was the role of the state in promoting industrialization outside Europe, such as in Japan?

Answer 11

The government, inspired by Western models, reformed the administration, armed forces, education, and infrastructure, leading to rapid industrialization and the creation of large industrial groups (Zaibatsu).

Question 12

What were the key characteristics of the “gold standard” during the 19th century?

Answer 12

It tied a country’s currency to its gold reserves, ensuring long-term price stability, fixed exchange rates, and unrestricted capital movement, contributing to the expansion of global trade and investment.

Question 13

What role did the Black Death (1347) play in European development?

Answer 13

Itreduced the population by 30-60%, alleviating pressure on natural resources, increasing available land, and improving living standards, but it also led to a sharp slowdown in production and halted international trade.

Question 14

What was the role of Venice and Genoa in early European trade?

Answer 14

They were key players in Mediterranean trade, connecting Europe with the Middle and Far East, importing luxury goods like silk and spices, and developing long-distance trade networks across Europe by the 13th century.

Question 15

What innovations allowed the Portuguese to lead in exploration in the 15th century?

Answer 15

They developed caravels, improved navigational tools like the quadrant and astrolabe, and built better nautical charts, enabling Vasco de Gama to successfully reach India by circumnavigating Africa.

Question 16

What was the significance of the Dutch Republic in the 17th century?

Answer 16

They became a global trading and financial center due to its strong maritime trade, innovations in finance (e.g., the Amsterdam Wisselbank), and the creation of joint-stock companies like the East India and West India Companies.

Question 17

What was the “Little Divergence” in European economic history?

Answer 17

It refers to the shift in economic power from southern Europe to the North Sea region (Dutch Republic and England), driven by access to Atlantic trade routes and the openness of political institutions to economic elites.

Question 18

What was the impact of the Agricultural Revolution on England’s economy?

Answer 18

It increased arable land, intensified farming techniques, and improved plant and animal breeding, leading to higher agricultural productivity and supporting population growth and urbanization.

Question 19

How did the Portuguese establish control in the Indian Ocean during the 16th century?

Answer 19

They used outposts to control trade in valuable goods like spices, gold, and ivory, avoiding large territorial occupations while extracting resources from Africa and Asia to fuel their economy.

Question 20

What was the significance of the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty (1860) in trade policy?

Answer 20

This treaty between France and Britain reduced tariffs and established the most-favored-nation clause, leading to a significant increase in international trade and competition during the mid-19th century.

Question 21

How did the “Great Deflation” (1870s-1890s) impact international trade?

Answer 21

It, being caused by overproduction, real estate crashes, and international competition, led to calls for protectionist policies, but it did not result in a stagnation of international trade, which continued to grow.

Question 22

What advantages did the “putting out” system offer in Northern Europe during the pre-industrial period?

Answer 22

This system allowed goods to be produced more freely and cheaply outside the control of guilds, increasing production efficiency in regions like England and the Low Countries compared to continental Europe.

Question 23

What was the role of Universal Banks in European industrialization?

Answer 23

They, which offered both commercial and investment banking services, were key in supporting the rapid pace of industrialization on the European continent, but they were also exposed to risks like liquidity crises.

Question 24

What was Gerschenkron’s “Advantages of Backwardness” model?

Answer 24

He argued that economically backward countries could benefit by imitating the technologies of advanced nations, allowing them to industrialize faster without the need for slow research and development.

Question 25

How did Britain’s Navigation Acts support its mercantilist policies?

Answer 25

These acts required goods to be transported on British ships and imposed tariffs on foreign goods, ensuring colonial dependence and creating a trade surplus that fueled the growth of British industries and the empire.