La Gran Divergencia

This book, 'La Gran Divergencia,' explores the economic development disparities between Western Europe and Asia during the early modern era. The author challenges the traditional narrative that Europe held inherent advantages leading to its industrial and economic dominance. Instead, the book argues that the divergence occurred later than commonly believed and resulted from specific factors such as access to resources from the Americas and the exploitation of coal. The text combines quantitative analyses of GDP and living standards with qualitative examinations of resource utilization, energy consumption, and sociopolitical structures. By comparing Europe’s development to regions like the Yangtze Delta in China, the book offers a nuanced perspective on historical economic growth and global power shifts. Its audience includes scholars of economic history, global development, and comparative studies, as well as readers interested in the historical foundations of modern economic systems.