Great Divergence - Paper Example

Introduction

Like any other country, before western countries developed, they were underdeveloped, which caused many challenges to their citizens because most of them lived under the poverty line. The only way they could get funds to achieve their basic needs was through performing hard labor. Despite the rise of Western countries, their development in infrastructure, economy, and their revolutionized military, the Chinese always tried to get ahead of them, which led to the defeat of Western countries by the Chinese.

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Rise of Western Countries

Evidently, despite the rise of Western countries, the Chinese always managed to get ahead of them, which led to some Western countries' defeat. It is believed that many of the western countries had developed before they moved to Asia due to the industrial revolution that could be seen back at home, in their countries of origin. Therefore, these Western countries' riseis related to their development of Western civilization's unique and superior forms.This is mainly because, through their superior forms of civilization, they could easily manipulate others and convince them that their civilization is better. Additionally, through their civilization, Westerners managed to make better military technology for themselves, which was organized in a way that specific people could control it to ensure better management as these people were responsible for all military equipment. Another advantage that Westerners had over other people from different nations was that they were always organized and had a lot of discipline. When the military is disciplined, it means that they will easily follow orders from anyone above them, making it easy for their leaders to control them. Their well-managed technology mainly brought about the rise of Western countries.

Additionally, despite the rise of Western countries, the Chinese found a way to get ahead of them, which led to some Western countries' defeat. This can be seen where the Dutch enjoyed certain military technologies in the 17th century because they had the technique and manpower to build and construct ships and fortifications, which they bragged to others.On the other hand, the Chinese decided to employ something that the Dutch lacked,includingartillery, the way they organized their military, their strategies during war, tactics, and discipline of their soldiers. During a war, it is always important to use anything that one has as an advantage to defeat an enemy because they might lack some specific elements to ensure they win. This is the reason why the Chinese used their different approach to this war because they understood that it could be tough to defeat the Dutch if they faced them head-on. Significantly, the Dutch used their technology as an advantage but forgot that the difference between their technology and that of the Chinese was very small, meaning that the gap could easily be filled through the use of some extra motivation. This is enough prove that the Chinese always managed to use their own ways to ensure that they get better and defeat the Westerners.

Ming Government

Moreover, despite the rise of Western countries, the Chinese always tried so hard to ensure that they could manage to get ahead of them, which led to some Western countries' defeat. This is another area that Andrade failed to discuss for various reasons fully. To show their willingness to learn so that they can also develop themselves, the Chinese, specifically the Ming government, had access to western cannons but did not decide to stay curious about how they are used and what makes them special. They chose to learn about them immediately when they got access to them, which led to the making of batches from the Portuguese-inspired guns.By using the Portuguese's ideas, the Chinese managed to make their weapons more effective by doing some developments on the borrowed knowledge they had accumulated. They then managed to use these weapons against the Portuguese, who found them to be very effective, causing the defeat of the westerners. This shows how fast the Chinese were eager to learn and always ready to develop their knowledge to ensure their well-being. For example, the Chinese made a weapon known as the musket, which was stronger than all the westerners’ weapons making it hard for them to fight the Chinese because the Chinese knew how to use their weapons, making them stronger than the westerners.

Additionally, the Chinese ensured that they had better tactical ideas that were effective, leading to the firearm units that were more advanced than those of the Europeans. To ensure their tactics were on point, the Chinese took turns when firing, which meant that the Chinese soldiers were given enough time to rest during the war. This shows how the Chinese always work so hard to ensure that they protect their interests.

Livestock

Despite the rise of Western countries, the Chinese tried so hard to ensure that they managed to get ahead of them, which led to some Western countries' defeat. For the Europeans to be more developed before industrialization, they have more wealth in livestock, farming land, and agricultural products. During these days, land, livestock, and agricultural produce were among the highest sources of income. These made people who had a lot of land and livestock to be considered rich. This means that before moving out to look for land and raw materials for their industries, many European countries are wealthy, which means that they could provide for themselves and others the required basic needs. During industrialization, the Europeans had acquired more wealth, which could be used to purchase and make military equipment and soldiers. Due to more foodstuff and livestock, many Europeans managed to live a healthy life where they had ready food at their houses, which came from their farms. This made them use their resources and income for other activities, such as making guns that they could use to protect themselves when they are being harassed. Significantly, Asian countries had larger pieces of land too and livestock; the only way that Asian countries were already highly populated, leaving the harvested food being used for local consumption. These leave them having to figure out which ways they will use to ensure they are protected. This shows how the Chinese are ready to do everything within their power to ensure that an individual's well-being is fulfilled.

Significantly, despite the rise of Western countries, Chinese citizens always tried their best to ensure that they managed to get ahead of them, which led to Westerners' defeat. While European countries enjoyed the availability of livestock, food, and freshwater, Asian countries lacked those, but this did not limit them from trying their best to find a source of freshwater. They used water transport to go and get pasture for their livestock.Many people from Asian countries are usually farmers, so it is always important for them to get farming tools and enough water as one of the main commodities they harvest is grain and rice. This is also their major form of importation together with various types of animals. The Chinese usually transport their grains using water transport to various countries to exchangewith other commodities they might lack. Through trading, a country can increase its revenue source, for example, trading the best products they are better at producing to get other commodities they might lack, and then use these commodities for the good of the people.

Additionally, the Chinese can trade Baltic grain to get raw materials for guns, which they can use for their own protection and protecting their younger generation. Grain trade being common in China, it grew to a greater rate than any form of trade in Europe. Thus, it led to the establishment of cities in China that were even great than those found in Europe, for example, London.

Chinese Peasants

Nevertheless, despite the rise of Western countries, the Chinese always tried so hard to ensure that they could manage to get ahead of them in any way they could. Evidently, Chinese peasants were free than many European ones when engaging in commercial handcraft production so that they could sell their products to different buyers.During the Ming reign, many Chinese citizens could participate in business freely, which led to their development as some who were very hardworking were able to get out of the peasant life, got themselves a nice house, and took care of their children. Due to hereditary artisan families' availability in China, many people traded their products freely with different nations. This led to the development of infrastructures in the country, such as the construction of new market places and roads so that they can be of the same standard as those found in Europe. Unfortunately, at the end of the Ming, the system died. Many peasant farmers and handicrafts lost their jobs as the Qing could not allow them to trade freely,impacting their economic status. On the bright side, there was the introduction of textile companies, and every household was encouraged to perform some textile works for their development.

On the contrary, in Europe, rural industries for textiles grew significantly but through some strict rules which were to ensure that both rural and urban development could be achieved in all areas.Leaders in different countries ensured this to ensure sustainable development was inevitable. This could greatly help a given country because people will focus their energy on something they find more productive and something they understand and love, for example, textile work. Additionally, governments managed to put in place labor markets that were flexible, which means an easy flow of goods in the market, and people could easily get them for their use and sell to others. Understanding this shows that the Chinese always used their own methodologies to ensure their survival and better development for all.

Conclusion

Finally, despite the rise of Western countries, the Chinese always managed to use their ways to get ahead of them. Through fighting among Chinese states that was sustainable, it led to the improvement of their cannons, handguns, and bombs, which led to the global military revolution.It led to a military revolution because many countries globally, including European ones, were observing their progress to see how the outcome of their internal war will turnout. Through their better understanding of technology, especially the one they borrowed from Europe, the Chinese used those ideas to make better equipment.

Bibliography

Andrade, Tonio. “An Accelerating Divergence? The Revisionist Model of World History and the Question of Eurasian Military Parity: Data from East Asia.” Canadian Journal of Sociology 36, no. 2 (2010): 185–208. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjs8873.

Andrade, Tonio. “Frontmatter.”Lost Colony, 2011, i-v.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400839537-fm.

Andrade, Tonio. “Garbage In, Garbage Out: Challenges of Model Building in Global History, A Military Historical Perspective.” Canadian Journal of Sociology 41, no. 1 (2016): 53–74.
https://doi.org/10.29173/cjs25677.

Pomeranz, Kenneth. “The Great Divergence,” 2009.
https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7sv80.