How did Europe rise to dominate the world? - General

If I said Europeans were more accepting of cultural differences would it be okay? [editline]26th February 2012[/editline] yes there are many "united" countries, but the EU is an outstanding accomplishment in the coming together of cultures. Not even India can get along with what used to be India, Pakistan. Yet we can be friends even though we've been through pain.

[QUOTE=BigOwl;34863216]They didn't.[/QUOTE] You sure about that? Cause if I remember correctly the british empire spanned so far around the globe that the sun never set on it, same for the spanish empire as well. [editline]26th February 2012[/editline] We probably came to dominate the world for some time due to sheer ruthlessness, most european countries then weren't in the business of taking shit, so if you fucked with the navies they were more than happy to shred you to pieces and let you drown. Then there's the fact that if I remember correctly (and I might be wrong) but at least with the british empire I'm sure that most of the nations that were claimed were well looked after and were generally imprved by things the brits brough with them like medicines and technology and stuff. Although I could be wrong, it's 6:45 on a sunday morning and I've had about 5 hours sleep :v:

[QUOTE=AK'z;34874120]If I said Europeans were more accepting of cultural differences would it be okay? [editline]26th February 2012[/editline] yes there are many "united" countries, but the EU is an outstanding accomplishment in the coming together of cultures. Not even India can get along with what used to be India, Pakistan. Yet we can be friends even though we've been through pain.[/QUOTE] i'm sorry but that's not even remotely true. xenophobia is fucking rampant in europe.

I don't see how Europe dominated the entire globe, it's small a continent compared to most nations, but it is ranked third on the biggest population.

[QUOTE=lolo;34874901]I don't see how Europe dominated the entire globe, it's small a continent compared to most nations, but it is ranked third on the biggest population.[/QUOTE] did you miss the age of imperialism or....?

[QUOTE=Lazor;34874804]i'm sorry but that's not even remotely true. xenophobia is fucking rampant in europe.[/QUOTE] Yes but it's only lukewarm hate.

Oh boy, where to start. Other major powers stagnating, proper utilisation of gunpowder and muskets, diversity of opponents and development of war techniques, the resurgence and collection of ideas from old golden ages, blue-water navigation and colonial exploration, I'd be happy to expand on any of them if you're interested. The biggest one though was blue-water navigation. It allowed them to trade further, to take advantage of new lands, to expand without the need for immediate bloodshed. Most others shaped Europe, but that gave them a very big edge.

Resources

Don't ban me for this but religion is a good reason why Europe rose. Also Britain was the starter into the industrial revolution. I question more, why is America such a big deal? Europe were big long before people from Europe moved to the USA

[QUOTE=Torjuz;34877216]Don't ban me for this but religion is a good reason why Europe rose.[/QUOTE] Why don't you expand on that statement and not be a burk.

[QUOTE=lolo;34874901]I don't see how Europe dominated the entire globe, it's small a continent compared to most nations, but it is ranked third on the biggest population.[/QUOTE] It had the most impact on the geopolitical stage historically and to some extent even today. On top of that there's remains of european culture in most former colonies. So yes Europe did more or dominate the entire globe. Either directly or indirectly. [quote] i'm sorry but that's not even remotely true. xenophobia is fucking rampant in europe. [/quote] It's kinda funny really. Europeans tend to be fairly xenophobic but rarely at other europeans. It's usually more of a rivalry thing. It's really one of the reasons why a lot of people I know believe that Europe will go down Eurocentric fascism. There's already signs of that here and there. Europeans have a tendency to be able to find a cultural common ground as long as the mentalities of those in question are fairly similar. But they have issues with people that refuse to assimilate to some degree. It's also one of the reason european immigrants to other european nations tend to be more ready to completely adopt their host nations. At least in the second, third generation onwards. As opposed to americans who still see themselves as irish american, italians american etc as opposed to just american. [QUOTE=Sunday_Roast;34877181]Resources[/QUOTE] Not entirely true. While there were a lot of resources in Europe itself, the real boon were those imported from colonies in the end. Maybe with the exception of the Habsburgs since they could never establish any remote colonies in part due to never having a decent port and navy.

They were under circumstances of constantly being on the brink of war, to keep advancing their civilizations to be the best. There were also many good minds in Europe and the minds were lucky that rich were patronizing what they were doing.

They went to the middle east (who at the time were far more civil and technologically advanced) slaughtered them and took their tech back to europe, triggering the renaissance.

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;34879048]They went to the middle east (who at the time were far more civil and technologically advanced) slaughtered them and took their tech back to europe, triggering the renaissance.[/QUOTE] Not really, by the mid 1400s, the Ottoman Empire was pushing back the Christians in Europe massively. The Europeans didn't even start to interfere in the Middle East until the Ottoman Empire had begun to decline in the 18th century.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;34880593]Not really, by the mid 1400s, the Ottoman Empire was pushing back the Christians in Europe massively. The Europeans didn't even start to interfere in the Middle East until the Ottoman Empire had begun to decline in the 18th century.[/QUOTE] Crusades.

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;34880998]Crusades.[/QUOTE] Europe very badly lost the crusades. The Christian Byzantine Empire was assimilated into the Ottoman Empire entirely.

technology

The biggest reason why they came into power is the Crusades. While they weren't as big as a military victory as they are thought to be, it revived an understanding of greco-roman knowledge that hadn't been around since the original Roman Empire. Certain nations, first the netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, found themselves absolutely buried in extra money. They started funding voyages to Africa, and eventually the Americas. Since their new gunpowder technologies allowed them to dominate, they were able to trade a very small amount of european goods forcibly for a large amount of African gold. The wealth from this trade allowed for silver mines in South America, as well as sugar and coffee plantations in Africa and the Caribbean. This cycle of expansion and profit continued up till the mid 1800's, when it segued into the Industrial Revolution. By this time, Europeans had proliferated their culture and technology all across the globe, and they were truly the dominant culture. Literally nobody could compete with them, as nobody else had a sizable navy or were too far away. So it all boils down to money. More than Mr. Enfield could ever dream of.

BTW, the first few Crusades did a bit but not that much really. The 4th crusade was the one where they attacked uh, Constantinople and stole all the old Roman relics. It also weakened Byzantium so when the Turks eventually got rid of them all the Greeks who had kept ancient knowledge spread to Western Europe. The Cursades didn't do a hell of a lot for Arab-Christian knowledge transfer, but sure did for Christian-Christian. lol Venice.

[QUOTE=Devodiere;34885045]BTW, the first few Crusades did a bit but not that much really. The 4th crusade was the one where they attacked uh, Constantinople and stole all the old Roman relics. It also weakened Byzantium so when the Turks eventually got rid of them all the Greeks who had kept ancient knowledge spread to Western Europe. The Cursades didn't do a hell of a lot for Arab-Christian knowledge transfer, but sure did for Christian-Christian. lol Venice.[/QUOTE] It introduced gunpowder to Europe, which is pretty much the only reason they had later success.

As a general explanation, I'd say it was the europeans abilty to adapt to new conditions that ultimately brought them their glory. As the europeans arrived in different places, the challenges varied alot. In the Americas, the native population remained, for a number of resons, in a development stage still encompassing alot of neolithic methods - although more refined. The biggest key in european domination over the Americas was the germs and the like they brough across the Atlantic oceans. The not so densely populated americans stood little change against small pox. Traveling by air, the small-pox virus could reach the natives before the colonizers did. As for Africa, the Europeans were initially unable to dominate. Large portions of the northern part of the continent remained under muslim rule, and while much of sub-saharan Africa was "open for conquering", the europeans faced problems with disease and such, rendering them unable to penetrate much of the continent (initially). Slaves had to be exerted by other africans, and bargained for at ports. The europeans knew virtually nothing off inland Africa. Navigating around the cape of good hope, portugese, british, spannish, and dutch merchants found a well established trade routes and patterns. The europeans of the 16th century had little to bargain with, and remained a minority in the trade over the Indian ocean. The spaniards were the first to offer the asian nations something of value. As the silver mines of South America operated, vast amounts of wealth rain down upon the Spannish. As the chinese at times lacked silver (for minting purposes and the like), profitable trades were made. The europeans ability to master the techs "gifted" to them by other civilizations ultimately brought them glory. Gunpowder has already been mentioned, the chinese printing press as well. Another great mastery was that of steam power. Borrowing the main concept from the chinese, the europeans ultimately mastered the arts, giving them hitherto unheard of production capabilities. The British early head start was a key factor in them becoming the ultimate power of the 19th century. It should be noted that the europeans ((western) Europe + America) hasn't been the financial, military nor technological centre for a very long time (historically speaking). Still by the first half of the 18th century, the asian economies flourished greater than the european. By the early 19th century, it had been surpassed, but not by alot. By the end of the 20th century, the tides were turning. [editline]27th February 2012[/editline] My paragraphs broke, anyone know why?

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;34881126]Europe very badly lost the crusades. The Christian Byzantine Empire was assimilated into the Ottoman Empire entirely.[/QUOTE] They still came back with Arabic tech.

Yeah Guns, Germs and Steel is a good start to understand human history.

[QUOTE=Wealth + Taste;34884728]The biggest reason why they came into power is the Crusades. While they weren't as big as a military victory as they are thought to be, it revived an understanding of greco-roman knowledge that hadn't been around since the original Roman Empire. Certain nations, first the netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, found themselves absolutely buried in extra money. They started funding voyages to Africa, and eventually the Americas. Since their new gunpowder technologies allowed them to dominate, they were able to trade a very small amount of european goods forcibly for a large amount of African gold. The wealth from this trade allowed for silver mines in South America, as well as sugar and coffee plantations in Africa and the Caribbean. This cycle of expansion and profit continued up till the mid 1800's, when it segued into the Industrial Revolution. By this time, Europeans had proliferated their culture and technology all across the globe, and they were truly the dominant culture. Literally nobody could compete with them, as nobody else had a sizable navy or were too far away. So it all boils down to money. More than Mr. Enfield could ever dream of.[/QUOTE] Hmmm. Well Europe wasn't really all that powerful until they started minor colonizations. When Spain started logging huge amounts of bullion back to Europe, people started competing even more, and Europe happened to have great minds and materials, so they had a head start on the other nations of the world.

IMO they basically just slowly killed off the Asian/middle east competition. By WW1 the European countries had been so built up from fighting amongst themselves they (the British) overwhelmed the ottomans. Also the middle eastern countries sort of ignored the concept of starting new colonies elsewhere to carry on there culture until it was too late.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;34881126]Europe very badly lost the crusades. The Christian Byzantine Empire was assimilated into the Ottoman Empire entirely.[/QUOTE] They did fairly well. Made massive amounts of money off of them. Lost it in the end. But it wasn't that important by the end. Also technically the fact that the byzantine empire was being assimilated hugely helped Europe as it meant that a large number of well educated refugees came to Europe and italy which helped speed up the rennaissance with old greek knowledge.

[QUOTE=wraithcat;34903035]They did fairly well. Made massive amounts of money off of them. Lost it in the end. But it wasn't that important by the end. Also technically the fact that the byzantine empire was being assimilated hugely helped Europe as it meant that a large number of well educated refugees came to Europe and italy which helped speed up the rennaissance with old greek knowledge.[/QUOTE] Indeed, but the way he was presenting it made one assume that the Europeans were indiscriminately slaughtering hordes of Moslems, when in actual fact the Europeans were mostly at their mercy until well after the age of discovery began.

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;34879048]They went to the middle east (who at the time were far more civil and technologically advanced) slaughtered them and took their tech back to europe, triggering the renaissance.[/QUOTE] The Renaissance had little to do with the middle east and taking technology from the middle east which quite frankly didn't stack up to the inventions of Europeans. Same goes for China, Europeans greatest strength was that they had the nact to be far more progressive than most at the time in everything that they did including architecture. This looks great [IMG]http://www.amren.com/ar/2009/10/03a-chinese_temple.jpg[/IMG] But doesn't even begin to compare to [IMG]http://www.amren.com/ar/2009/10/03b-Notre_Dame.jpg[/IMG] Besides Europe was advanced far before the Renaissance. Even the earliest mechanical computer traces back to Greece.

[QUOTE=Hellstrom;34913993] This looks great [IMG]http://www.amren.com/ar/2009/10/03a-chinese_temple.jpg[/IMG] But doesn't even begin to compare to [IMG]http://www.amren.com/ar/2009/10/03b-Notre_Dame.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] But how many years differs from the buildings? I don't think architecture necessary show who's the most advance. In my eyes that's more about comparing different tradition and art/building styles. I mean, the style of Chinese buildings haven't changed much for hundred and hundreds of years. Example from a book printed 1100 AD. [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Yingzao_Fashi_1.JPG[/img]

Possibly one reason for why Asian nations did not rise is due to their inherent agricultural methods. Rice farming is a labour intensive method of obtaining food, requiring maintenance year round. In contrast, the European crops only really required major work twice a year. (Sowing and harvest) Due to this, I would say that the Europeans had much greater free time if crops did not need tending, hence they could be mobilised for wars or develop a trade. Furthermore the Feudal system that began to collaspe in the end of the Middle Ages allowed for men with money to become more important than men with land(Although the old thinking persisted well into the 19th century), with nations demanding money in taxes rather than military service. As money became more important, so would trade and consequently the development of international trading and discovery.