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by A Rock In Woolfs Clothing on November 13th, 2009
distribution of resources and not just minerals, things like running water sources to power the early mills and domesticated animals. Zebras look like striped horses but cannnot be domesticated. However, you might be forgeting the Chinese empire was once the pinnicle of a modern, thriving state, it was conceit and ethnocentric philosophy that doomed them. Good book by Jered Diamond "guns, germs and steel" that goes into lenght about this, even includes the early so. american civilization. you know the Mayans had the wheel. but never used it in carts but only in childrens toys.
by Anonymous on November 13th, 2009
We went, we saw, we conquered! We prosper they suffer. What stopped them from exploiting us was that our technology developed to a point where we could go there and take what we wanted while theirs didn't.
Also I think the fact that European royal families are in fact one big family meant Europe's states stopped fighting with each other (mostly) while Africa and Asia were still occupied with fighting the next tribe etc..
That's a very basic summation on my part but it gets the main points out I hope!
by ConservativelyLiberal on November 13th, 2009
Natural resources, and good timing. Africa and the middle east have little in the way of usable resources for creating and maintaining a manufacturing base. The soils and weather make farming difficult at the best of times.
by Hardcore Conservative on November 13th, 2009
The west has all the natural resources necessary for it to thrive. Africa lacks those resources or they are in short supply.
by LarryH54 on November 13th, 2009
Read 'The Mainspring of Human Progress' by Henry Grady Weaver. The real power to grow comes from freedom.
by CaptainHarley adores his life penguin on November 13th, 2009
Excellent resources, a strong work-ethic, a dynamic entreprenuerial spirit, and the freedom to exercise them.
by Phillis - Zacks little sister on November 13th, 2009
Think of countries as no more than large cities/towns. Cities and towns were established in their locations for a reason. Those reasons primarily are due to a potable water supply, a food supply, soil that can support crop growth, available materials that can be used to build shelter, and (eventually) on trade routes which connect them to other populations.
Countries are no different. When you have the basic needs met (food, shelter, clothing) you begin to flourish. This is exactly why western countries have thrived, while poverty abounds in other countries. They must coax crops to grow in harsh or sandy soils, so food supply is available only for consumption; there are not enough crops left over to trade with other populations for other goods.
Then there are the political/religious reasons. Dictators and other leaders can be so short-sighted and egotistical that they force a way of life on their people which is incompatible with growth (think of Cuba). +5
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Comments
Good educated answer, though I don't think it explains why the difference is so stark +4
by taracute on November 13th, 2009
it's also the individual philosophy of the States involved w/ religion woven in. I don't think the West would have been just motivated by gold, but it was also the need for missionaries to convert the heathens. No expedition was sent out without some sort of priest. And of course, many will disagree, the Catholic and Christians basically see the World as thiers to form into the image of man, or God as it may be. And once you get started exploiting, I imagine it would be hard to stop, once the riches started to flow in. Stark, good word, the haves and the have nots.
by A Rock In Woolfs Clothing on November 13th, 2009