Chapter 12 Conclusion Europe, why can you grab the first place?

For a long time, Chinese civilization was more advanced than European civilization.European printing, papermaking, gunpowder, compass needles, and canal locks all came directly and indirectly from China.However, the world's first wave of robust economic development took place in Europe for the first time, and the Industrial Revolution followed.Other symbols of modernity, such as representative government and the concept of human rights, also originated in Europe.What's going on in Europe? In 1480, the Ming emperor of China ordered to stop all overseas exploration and trade. Merchants who continued to trade were regarded as smuggling crimes. The emperor would send troops to destroy their residences and burn their ships.But no king in Europe has ever abused or pretended to have such authority, and no king can afford such a closed law at such a high cost.In Europe, kings are always surrounded by powerful enemies, but Chinese emperors have unparalleled monarchy. This is their advantage—or trap.European countries' rivalry with each other is a driving force for their overseas expansion.

After the demise of the Roman Empire, there was no longer a powerful force that ruled the entire territory in Western Europe.Imagine that Rome was once conquered by a single power, like India was conquered by the Mughals, or the Middle East by the Ottoman Turks.Through conquest, these alien races became the masters of the new country.But the conquerors of Rome were several different and mutually hostile Germanic barbarians.These barbarians had never been masters, and it was not so much that they conquered the Roman Empire as that they found it melting under their feet when they set foot on the land of the Empire.They had no experience in governing a fixed state, and they couldn't even maintain the taxation mechanism that Rome relied on for survival.They subverted a general rule of universal government: to govern the country under their jurisdiction without taxing it.

Most of the historical evolution of Europe was doomed from the moment the foundation was laid.The government has no control over the people, and they have to think hard to win the obedience of the people.If they want to expand their power, they have to provide good government - that is, maintain law and order in return. They can't run on tax mechanisms and tributes like countless empires and kingdoms in Asia and the Middle East. For centuries, these kings' greatest threats were their most powerful subordinates - the landed aristocracy.These power ministers finally bowed their heads, but because they have dominated their own territory for long enough, they have already won the protection of private property for themselves and the people on their land. "Not everything belongs to the king" is the cornerstone of European freedom and prosperity.

In order to make the nobles bow their heads and surrender, the king relied more on merchants, traders and financiers in the city. First, he had to rely on these people to provide loans and manpower to maintain the bureaucratic system. Second, the wealth of these people could be taxed.European monarchs collected taxes carefully and gently, so as not to kill the hen that laid the golden eggs; the rulers of Asian countries were more authoritarian, imposing exorbitant taxes, and even directly confiscated the goods of merchants when they were in short supply. The low-key caution of the European monarch is also a last resort, because in this delicate balance surrounded by heroes, he is only one of the players, and if the merchant is bullied too much, he may turn to the enemy camp.Under such circumstances, it is inevitable for them to attach importance to economic development and emerging technologies. Although these technologies are mainly used in warfare, they are no different from modern times in that these defense expenditures may bring significant returns.In addition to being cautious in words and deeds, they also kept in mind the lessons of the Roman Empire and the obligations of Christian kings, so they were less likely to implement tyranny and indulge in sex, and such scenes were common among Asian monarchs, much more common than in Europe.

Having subdued the old aristocracy, these European kings became the supporters of a lively new class—the urban middle class.Back then these weak monarchs had allowed towns to govern themselves, a concession that became all the more important as the cities grew richer.The middle class seemed much more peaceful and less threatening than the aristocrats who had their own armies and hid in their castles to defend themselves.However, no matter how difficult the aristocrats are, they are part of a social order in which the king is the natural head of state; in contrast, the middle class, whose way of life does not require the existence of a king, has a long-term impact on the royal government. Threats are far trickier than nobles.

From weak foundations the monarch increases in power--the only exception being England, where the monarch is still under the tameness of Parliament.This institution is a surviving tradition from the Middle Ages: the king had to consult state affairs with his ministers.Even in France, where the absolute monarch is most famous, the king's orders are not far-reaching and absolute; in order to maintain the integrity of the country, he has to make many concessions and special deals.Although the French Council of State is no longer held, mini-Conferences in remote provinces still exist, playing a role in vetoing the tax reforms promoted by the King of France in the 1780s.The French king failed in his attempt to change and was forced to reconvene the three-level national conference-the reformers learned from the British parliamentary government and were inspired, and they must force him to do so.

As for Central Europe, which is now Germany and Italy, no monarch has ever established a unified power, and the emperor and the pope have been fighting openly and secretly for power for many years.In this area, there are many cities, city-states, and feudal states, like many independent small countries, which is an extreme example of the dispersion of power in Europe.These tiny states laid the foundations for the Renaissance and the Revolution, which transformed Europe as a whole. Although Europe is divided politically, it is still a complete civilization, which has been called Christian civilization since the Middle Ages.Until the Reformation, the Church was an organization that knew no borders and stood in all lands.The church also had ambitions to control state affairs, but although the king shouldered the obligation to protect the Christian faith, he did not think that he should obey the church and respond to requests.There has always been tension between church and state, the most prominent and enduring example being the sabre-rattling between the pope and the emperor, another example of the dispersion of power.

The church is the controller of the elite culture of the Christian society, and also the protector of the holy scriptures of this religion - the "Bible" and ancient Greek and Roman learning.In the Middle Ages, some scholars wove the "Bible" and ancient learning into one to create a set of sound theological thinking, but the church also had its own doors, and its holy scriptures said nothing about the structure of the church itself-the church is actually an ancient church. Roman rule was a fine organization; moreover, the ancient Roman learning it preserved was the work of pagans.With the Reformation and the Renaissance, such aberrations exploded.

In China, power is very clearly concentrated in the hands of the emperor, and the elite culture respected by Confucianism also supports the monarchy.Whether it is personal cultivation or dealing with others, Chinese people take Confucianism as their standard, and it has been deeply rooted in the entire society and the country.Rulers have to be familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics regardless of their legitimacy, and you have to pass the Confucian classics exam to become a state official. In contrast, in Europe, power is not only dispersed, but elite culture is also a big platter, and the tie between monarchy and rule is not strong.The Chinese are very smart, but their smartness never gets out of control, even if they have whimsical ideas, they basically never cause trouble.The openness of European society has a long history.The explosive economic power of modern Europe and the contention of a hundred schools of thought in intellectual life are all based on the fact that, for better or for worse, no single power has ever controlled or shaped it.Therefore, its diverse historical heritage can be fully explored and extended; Greek mathematical concepts were realized during the scientific revolution, thus establishing a new foundation for technological innovation.

Economic historians ask why Europe is the first in terms of industrialization, as if other societies were on the same track as Europe, and it turned out that Europe was the first to touch the line.Patricia Cron, who is the source of many inspirations for this book, asks: "Is Europe running first? Or is it a monster?" In her opinion, Europe is unquestionable and undeniable. Button is a "monster".