Almost every adult living today is aware of the phenomenon of economic progress. Few, however, seem to know where it comes from or what causes it. Conventional explanations on this subject trace the origin of economic progress back to innovations in technology. Technological innovations can be traced back to new ideas in the minds of their inventors. However, the origin of economic progress is not well known.

History and Economic Progress

Geography and History of Economic Progress

An examination of history shows that economic progress has occurred in the West, in areas settled by European Civilization. However, it has not occurred in areas outside the West except through Western contact. Consider the case of China. In the early 20th century, before it had much contact with the West, the condition and living standards of most Chinese peasants was not much different as it was 3000 years before. If China never had contact with the West, there is little evidence to suppose that the condition of these peasants would be any better 3000 years from now.

An examination of history also shows that economic progress has not always occurred in the West. Consider Western history from the rise of the Minoan Empire around 1500 B.C. to the fall of the Western Roman Empire around 500 A.D. During this 2000 year period economic rises and declines seemed to have occurred with the rise and fall of empires, but overall there was little evidence of sustained economic progress. In fact, a case can be made for an overall economic decline because, for example, the plumbing technology of the Minoan Empire was in many ways superior to that of the Western Roman Empire and was not surpassed in the West until the 19th century. Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus The Western Roman Empire in 395. ...

Economic Progress Visible Since 500 A.D.

By contrast, consider the period of Western history from 500 A.D. to the present. During this shorter 1500-year period unprecedented economic advances occurred. “From the sixth century on, we can trace a slowly expanding technology. The water wheel comes in the sixth century, the stirrup in the eighth, the horse collar and rudder in the ninth, the windmill in the twelfth, and so on. For Europe, the invention of printing in the fifteenth century represents an irreversible take-off, because from this point on the dissemination of information increased with great rapidity. The seventeenth century saw the beginning of science, the eighteenth an acceleration of technological change so great that it has been called, perhaps rather misleadingly, the Industrial Revolution…”[1] The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ... An overshot water wheel standing 42 feet high powers the Old Mill at Berry College in Rome, Georgia A water wheel (also waterwheel, Norse mill, Persian wheel or noria) is a hydropower system; a system for extracting power from a flow of water. ... The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century, Kofun period, Japan. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... Two horse collars A horse collar is a device used to distribute load around a horses neck, for pulling a wagon or plow. ... Stern-mounted steering oar of an Egyptian riverboat depicted in the Tomb of Menna (c. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... A Dutch tower windmill surrounded by tulips A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... The printing press is a mechanical device for printing many copies of a text on rectangular sheets of paper. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... A Watt steam engine. ...

History Before and After Economic Progress

From the preceding one can divide the Western history into two parts: an early history of events occurring before 500 A.D., a history that is not characterized by economic progress, and a later history of events occurring after 500 A.D., a history that seems driven by economic progress. In observing the distinction, one can focus on the cause of economic progress. Why was the West progressing after 500 A.D., but not before? Why was it that non-Western areas never progressed, except in modern times after they established contact with the West?

Christian Theory of Economic Progress

Overview

Christianity began spreading around 30 A.D, but it took centuries to become the predominant religion of Europe. For a time the government of the Roman Empire tried to suppress it. However, by 500 A.D., it had spread to most of Europe. It did not spread to Scandinavia until the years 800 to 1200 A.D. Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe and includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ...

Christianity shared some beliefs with its predecessor religion, Judaism. In that respect, it is similar to all other religions, in that one can consider it a set of beliefs. However, it also offered salvation to the individual. By accepting the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, an individual can have eternal life. For an individual this eternal life means that he will go to heaven when he dies. Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In theology, salvation can mean three related things: being saved from something, such as suffering or the punishment of sin - also called deliverance; being saved for something, such as an afterlife or participating in the Reign of God - also called redemption; being saved through a process of healing or transformation... In theology, salvation can mean three related things: being saved from something, such as suffering or the punishment of sin - also called deliverance; being saved for something, such as an afterlife or participating in the Reign of God - also called redemption; being saved through a process of healing or transformation... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Immortality is the concept of existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time. ... Immortality is the concept of existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

However, this eternal life also has a social impact in the here and now. The eternal life of an individual will lead the betterment of the society in which he lives. Such a betterment of society by one individual may be difficult to measure. However, when a society like Europe, has a large number of Christians who possess eternal life, the betterment becomes obvious. This betterment is manifested in economic progress. The eternal life of individuals leads to the eternal life of the economy, one will progress forever and ever, assuming that there are individuals possessing eternal life that are present within it. Immortality is the concept of existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time. ... Immortality is the concept of existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Immortality is the concept of existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time. ... Immortality is the concept of existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time. ... Immortality is the concept of existing for a potentially infinite or indeterminate length of time. ...

External Nature of Economic Progress

Economic progress is an external import. The largely non-Christian nation of Japan had a non-progressing economy for millennia until it opened up contact with the West in 1854. It then became zealous in sending envoys to the West to borrow ideas and technology. As a result, it experienced rapid economic growth and in a matter of decades became an industrial economy. One should note that all this growth came externally from outside of Japan. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In a similar way, European economic progress did not come from Europe. Rather it came from an external albeit supernatural source. Christians who are saved have a personal relationship with God. In this relationship, they learn things, almost as though they travel to heaven and bring back knowledge of things they have seen or heard. They generally do not learn anything specific like how to build a better mousetrap, but they do learn to live by faith in what they spiritually perceive. "Faith is the substance of things believed in, the evidence of things not seen." World map showing the location of Europe. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ...

Worldliness and Economic Progress

Often faith is seen as unworldly, as it exists in conflict with the world of conformity that would never progress by itself. The Christian Bible admonishes, "Love not the world," and "If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not with him." Nevertheless, through economic progress, faith is very worldly as the wealth created through it attracts almost everyone. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library of Congress. ...

In the early 2000's, a ship carrying illegal Chinese immigrants was stopped by U.S. authorities while trying to dock near New York. On the ship was a Chinese Christian who was harassed and persecuted by his fellow shipmates during the voyage. The shipmates threw his Bible overboard. The shipmates were obviously repelled by Christianity. Nevertheless, they were in some sense attracted to it as they all wanted to settle in a predominantly Christian county. The authorities ended up deporting all the immigrants except for the one Christian who was allowed entry because he could demonstrate a "fear of persecution." “New York, NY” redirects here. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch...

Nations at the Forefront of Economic Progress

In European history, one can detect differences in economic progress between nations. During the 1400s and early 1500s, Mediterranean nations were to be at the forefront of economic progress. Portugal began exploring the west coast of Africa. Gil Eannes rounded the previously impassable Cape Bojador in 1434. Bartholomew Diaz rounded the southern tip of Africa in 1488. Vasco da Gama reached India in 1497, initiating the first direct European trade with Asia. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Gil Eanes (Eannes), pron. ... Cape Bojador is a headland on the northern coast of Moroccos Western Sahara province, just below latitude 27° North. ... Bartolomeu Dias (Anglicized: Bartholomew Diaz) (c. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Vasco da Gama Dom Vasco da Gama, 1st count da Vidigueira (IPA: (Sines or Vidigueira, Alentejo, Portugal, ca. ...

Spain discovered the Americas in 1492 and the Spanish were soon inflating the European gold supply with numerous tons of gold that they found in the Aztec and Inca Empires. Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the southern tip of South America and across the Pacific Ocean to the East Indies in 1519-21. Magellan died, but his crew completed a circumnavigation of the world by sailing around Africa and back to Spain in 1522. In the late 1400s, the city-states of northern Italy began a high period of learning, culture, and art, known as the Renaissance. GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... Ferdinand Magellan, see Ferdinand Magellan Railcar. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and South-East Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... The Renaissance (French for rebirth, or Rinascimento in Italian), was a cultural movement in Italy (and in Europe in general) that began in the late Middle Ages, and spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century. ...

However, by the late 1500s, the forefront of economic progress shifted northward to England and the northern German states. Such a shift appeared especially true after the English defeated an attacking Spanish Armada in 1588. These northern areas remained at the forefront during the Industrial Revolution that occurred during the 1700s and 1800s. Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50... Combatants England Dutch Republic Spain Portugal Commanders Charles Howard Francis Drake Duke of Medina Sidonia Strength 34 warships 163 armed merchant vessels 22 galleons 108 armed merchant vessels Casualties 50–100 dead[1] ~400 wounded 600 dead, 800 wounded,[2] 397 captured, 4 merchant ships sunk or captured The Spanish... A Watt steam engine. ...

By 1900, economic progress was beginning to integrate the entire world economy, but economic power remained divided between two northern centers of progress, England and Germany. Both centers were so important, that the two wars between them in the 1900s pitted one half of the world economy with the other half. These wars involved so many economic allies on both sides that they were called World Wars. During the Second World War, England had some superior technologies like radar, while Germany held other superior technologies such as rockets and jet aircraft. Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the Queen England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate 50...

Following World War II, the centers of economic power or at least polarization shifted to the United States and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was not particularly advanced economically, but was the center of socialist ideology, and it did have the resources to invest in key military technologies. It was the first nation to launch satellites and men into outer space. The United States by contrast was the center of capitalist ideology and was a key contributor to economic progress. The polarization between the two nations and their allies was reflected in the Cold War. However, with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1989, the Cold War ended, making the integration of the world economy essentially complete. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

Opinions about Economic Progress

Empiricism

The empirical observation of economic progress in the modern West encourages many to apply the concept universally to all cultures, and to all times, and even to non-humans. Humans are alleged to have progressed in a straight line from cave men to modern man. The publication of Charles Darwin's, The Origin of Species, led to the belief of evolution. Evolution teaches that over time life forms inexorably progress by means of natural selection to more advanced life forms. Implicit in the concept of evolution is the idea of progress and the creation of wealth in the form of more advanced animal bodies. Despite Evolution's opposition to another theory of origins, called Creationism, Evolution itself is a form of creationism. For other people of the same surname, and places and things named after Charles Darwin, see Darwin. ... Charles Darwins Origin of Species (publ. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... Creationism is the belief that humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe were created in their entirety by a supernatural deity or deities (typically God), whose existence is presupposed. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ...

Without empirical support, Evolution would not gain much social support. Nineteenth century Chinese peasants would regard the theory as delusional, as they would not grasp the concept of progress. Culturally, on a worldwide basis, Evolution is a Christian theory in that its main basis of support is in largely Christian nations where its underlying concept is evident. This article is about evolution in biology. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ...

Rationalism

In contrast to the empiricist belief that economic progress occurs universally throughout history is the rationalist belief that doubts whether economic progress occurs or will occur in the future. A leading example of rationalist belief is the environmental movement. The environmental movement (a term that sometimes includes the conservation and green movements) is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement. ...

Environmentalists believe that there exists physical limits to economic growth and that society should plan to live within these limits. They point out that reserves of physical resources like crude oil and various metals are limited and that society faces hard times when such resources run out. In addition, environmentalists argue the threat of global warming and believe that society should cut back its economic activity in order to avoid the consequences posed by this threat.

In indicating various limits to growth, environmentalists do not believe that innovations created by economic progress will overcome such limits. They see no cause for economic progress and that therefore believe economic progress cannot be occurring.

One American environmentalist, Jeremy Rifkin, argues this way and he points out in his book Entropy: A New World View the ancient peoples did not think at all in terms of economic progress, but felt that society had retrogressed from a golden age of the past. Jeremy Rifkin (b. ...

Geographical Distribution of Opinion

In using environmentalism as an indicator of rationalism, one can observe that rationalism is more prevalent outside the United States as there is no popular support for environmental "Green Parties" in American politics. In regard to global warming, the United States and Australia are the major nations that has not signed the International Kyoto Accord on Global Warming. One would expect environmentalism and rationalism to be more prevalent in nations that experience little or no direct economic progress, and facts confirm that expectation. For the psychology topic, see Environmental psychology. ... Earth as seen by Apollo 17 The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty on global warming. ...

Alternate Theories of Economic Progress

Max Weber's Protestant Work Ethic

As mentioned above, the writer Max Weber gives an alternate theory of economic progress. His theory is good in that it focuses on a religious distinction between geographical areas where economic progress is evident versus areas where such progress is lacking. However, he attributes a work ethic as the cause of economic progress. A society that works 50 percent more will presumably have a 50 percent increase in living standards, although they will also have less free time to enjoy such standards. It is not clear how such a work ethic would cause continuous economic progress. For the painter, see Max Weber (artist). ...

Ayn Rand's "Men of the Mind"

Philosopher Ayn Rand presents another theory of economic progress in her best-selling novel, Atlas Shrugged. The 1957 novel opens in a deteriorating America that shows signs of economic decline. Within this America are a few individuals of competence like railroad manager Dagny Taggart, and steel magnate Hank Reardon. Throughout the novel Taggart and Reardon attempt to expand their companies by doing business with other competent industrialists. Ayn Rand (IPA: , February 2 [O.S. January 20] 1905 – March 6, 1982), born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum (Russian: ), was a Russian-born American novelist and philosopher,[1] best known for developing Objectivism and for writing the novels We the Living, The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged and the novella Anthem. ... Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the USA. It was Rands last work of fiction before concentrating her writings exclusively on philosophy, politics and cultural criticism. ...

Usually Taggart and Reardon succeed for a short while, but then the competent industrialist with whom they do business mysteriously disappears. Eventually the two find out that another individual, John Galt, is organizing a strike and withdrawing all the competent people from the world. After some convincing, the two decide to join the strike, and retreat with Galt to a utopia of competent people that is hidden in a valley inside the Rocky Mountains. As the two are retreating, incompetence is running amuck and America is collapsing into a pre-industrial chaos.

Implicit in Atlas Shrugged is the theory that particularly competent individuals create economic progress. Rand calls these individuals, the "men of the mind." While Rand's theory makes superficial sense in that knowledge and competence invariably drive economic progress, she does not explain what causes competent people to arise. Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the USA. It was Rands last work of fiction before concentrating her writings exclusively on philosophy, politics and cultural criticism. ...

Competent people become competent because they remain mentally young longer and consequently acquire more knowledge than others. Economic progress is caused by eternal youth, the ability to remain mentally forever young which a consequence of eternal life.

Besides Atlas Shrugged, Rand has also written, Anthem, a short novel about a dystopia of the future in which society has economically regressed from the present day. Ms. Rand is unusual in that she cannot be characterized as an empiricist because she does not believe that economic progress is automatic and she is clearly not a rationalist as she has written The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution, a book that is highly critical of the environmental movement. Rand happened to grow up in economically stagnant Russia before moving to the United States, so she knows that progress is not automatic. Despite being an atheist, she is appreciative of economic progress and few individuals glorify economic progress as much as she does. Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the USA. It was Rands last work of fiction before concentrating her writings exclusively on philosophy, politics and cultural criticism. ... An anthem is a composition to an English religious text sung in the context of an Anglican service. ...

Alleged Western Economic Progress in Pre-Christian Times

There was a significant economic progress in the bronze age, but between the 12th and 8th centuries BC there occurred significant decline. Maritime trade collapsed during this period and the average house size declined from 70 square meters in Minoan Greece to 55 square meters in eighth century Greece. But with the rise of Ancient Greece occurred an unprecedent economic progress, the average house size reached about 230 square meters by the fourth century BC and average lifetimes increased about 7 years, from 30 to 37 years ^{[citations needed]}. Economic progress continued in the next centuries and by the 1st century BC, the ancient mediterranean world reached its economic peak. During this century 185 shipwrecks were found in the mediterranean sea, compared to only 20 for the 6st century BC. However economic grow stopped during the Early Roman Empire, and by the late empire the standard of living had returned to early iron age standards. The Temple to Athena, the Parthenon Ancient Greece is a period in Greek history that lasted for around three thousand years. ...

Alleged Chinese Economic Progress and Population Growth

In the early 20th century China was able to support more than an order of magnitude higher population than 3000 years before, which became only possible due to an enormous number of important technological innovations introduced in this country during these years. Note also that, e.g., during the Sung period (especially in the 11th century) the twofold population increase took place against the background of the growing per capita production, which was achieved due to the so called "Sung Green Revolution"; hence, we are confronting here a clear-cut case of pre-Modern economic progress outside Europe (see, for example, Chapter 2 of the Introduction to Social Macrodynamicsby Andrey Korotayev et al.]). Andrey Korotayev (born in 1961) is an anthropologist, economic historian, and sociologist. ...

[1] Kenneth Boulding, The Meaning of the 20th Century: The Great Transition. p. 6 (New York, Harper & Row, 1964.) Kenneth Ewart Boulding (January 18, 1910 - March 18, 1993) was born in Liverpool, England, graduated from Oxford University, granted United States citizenship in 1948. ...

[2] Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. (New York, Scribner’s Press, 1958) For the painter, see Max Weber (artist). ... The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is a book written by Max Weber, a German economist and sociologist in 1904 and 1905 that began as a series of essays. ...

See also

• History of technology
• History of science
• Economic growth