Religion, Technology, and the Great and Little Divergences

China and Europe Compared, C. 700-1800
Erscheinungsjahr 2012
ISBN: 978-90-04-23388-1
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 2, 280 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 239 mm, Gewicht: 590 g

Reihe: Knowledge Infrastructure and Knowledge Economy

In Religion, Technology, and the Great and Little Divergences Karel Davids offers a new perspective on technological change in China and Europe before the Industrial Revolution. This book makes an innovative contribution to current debates on the origins of the 'Great Divergence' between China and Europe and the ' Little Divergence' within Europe by analysing the relationship between the evolution of technical knowledge and religious contexts. It deals with the question to what extent disparities in the evolution of technical knowledge can be explained by differences in religious environment. It takes a comparative look at the relation between technology and religion in China and Europe between c.700 and 1800 from four angles: visions on the uses of nature, the formation of human capital, the circulation of technical knowledge and technical innovation.

Zielgruppe

All interested in global history, the history of technology, economic history, Chinese history and European history and anyone concerned with the work by Max Weber and Lynn White.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Davids, Karel

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Europäische Länder
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Europäische Geschichte
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftsgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Wirtschaftsgeschichte
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Volkswirtschaftslehre Allgemein Geschichte der VWL
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft | Kulturwissenschaften Kulturwissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Wissenschafts- und Universitätsgeschichte
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften, Formalen Wissenschaften & Technik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface



Introduction

The Great Divergence

Technological change in China and Europe

Religion, the economy and technology before 1800: different views

Weberian themes and the Little Divergence

A long-term comparative approach



1. Religion and Visions on the Uses of Nature in China and Europe

Visions of nature and the Great Divergence

Visions of nature and the Little Divergence

Conclusion



2. Religion and the Formation of Human Capital in China and Europe

Variations in human capital formation

Religious institutions and formal learning

Religious institutions and informal learning

Conclusion



3. Religion and the Circulation of Technical Knowledge in China and Europe

Religion and the circulation of technical knowledge before 1500

Religion and the circulation of technical knowledge after 1500

Conclusion



4. Religion and Technical Innovation in China and Europe

Religion, technical innovation and the Great Divergence

Religion, technical innovation and the Little Divergence

Conclusion



Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Davids, Karel
Karel Davids, Ph.D. in History, University of Leiden, is Professor of Economic and Social History at the VU University Amsterdam. He has published extensively on the history of technology, economic and social history and maritime history of the Netherlands and on themes in global history, including The Rise and Decline of Dutch Technological Leadership. Technology, Economy, and Culture in the Netherlands, 1350-1800 (BRILL 2008).