COLUMN. To win the cultural and intellectual battle, Europe must staunchly defend its model, writes the economist in his column, dismantling the narrative of a 'declining' continent.
Britain industrialized first in history precisely because of its wide colonies. Exploitation of the global south is not a precondition for industrialization (see China, USSR), but it was one of the key factors that kickstarted the industrial revolution.
Britain was already very industrialized before the steam engine. Portugal had colonies before Britain and was importing textiles and other utensils from the British industry already in the XVI century and even before that. Portugal and Spain totally missed the industrial revolution btw. So I don’t think those issues are that directly connected. In Portugal historians often argued that we missed the industrialization precisely because of the focus on maritime trade and colonies.
Britain industrialized first in history precisely because of its wide colonies. Exploitation of the global south is not a precondition for industrialization (see China, USSR), but it was one of the key factors that kickstarted the industrial revolution.
Britain was already very industrialized before the steam engine. Portugal had colonies before Britain and was importing textiles and other utensils from the British industry already in the XVI century and even before that. Portugal and Spain totally missed the industrial revolution btw. So I don’t think those issues are that directly connected. In Portugal historians often argued that we missed the industrialization precisely because of the focus on maritime trade and colonies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methuen_Treaty