World transformations (1820-1870)

1820

• Both western europe and wealthy Asia (China) are similar
  • Scientific discoveries.
  • Strong economies.
  • Manufacturing.
  • Large population centres.
• Western europe however has
  • Large trade network.
  • Access to resources in north and south america.
  • They break the malthusian trap using technology.

After 1820 Europe and Americas GDP start increasing dramatically and by 1870 they are dominant economies in the world, dwarfing Asia.

Technology

• Wealth pouring into Western Europe, created a rich upper middle class, which valued education.
• Number of universities and importance of them was growing.
• Printing press enabled to publish knowledge and create communities of readers around such knowledge.
• Industries, specially mining and shipping, provided opportunities to tinkerers, including financial sponsorship to solve problems faced by these industries.
• A vast global network of trade also meant a global network of knowledge.
• All this enabled Western Europe to lead technology discoveries.

Influence of Technology

• With steam engines, rail road, and telegraph, population demographic started showing significant changes.
• Due to rail road, it was possible to transport labour and goods inland without relying on rivers.
• This opened up vast areas of north america, australia to farming.
• Steam boats also meant the transportation of goods and labour over water was much more cost effective.
• Western Europe, North America, Australia grew rapidly.
• Spread of Christiantiy to Asia, Latin America and Africa.
• Due to protectionism in England, India loses its textile manufacturing industry.

Islamic world

• Wahabism takes root in Arabia, winning some land.
• Muslim brotherhoods are formed.
• Ottoman empire defeats Egypt and keeps control of the empire.
• Safavids in Iran are defeated with a new dynasty.
• Islam starts spreading into Africa, specially West Africa.
• Europeans are restricted to coastal areas of Africa, due to diseases affecting them.
• Suez canal is opened.
• Russian empires expands to pacific ocean and Alaska, is now threatning to expand to North America

Pacific World and Far East

• America expands out to the pacific coast, blocks way for any other european power to enter North America.
• Europeans start expanding into the southeast Asian islands and pacific islands.
• Growth in Australia makes expansion into the near by regions possible and profitable.
• China loses Opium wars giving footholds to British in China.
• Japan opens up trade with North America.
• Indonesia, malaysia are increasingly influenced by Muslim brotherhoods.