Why China Was Rich Before Europe

Описание: Did you know that in the year 1000, while London was a small muddy town of 15,000 people, China was home to metropolises of over a million? For centuries, China wasn't just "ahead"—it was in a completely different league of technology, wealth, and urbanization.
In this video, we dive into the "Commercial Revolution" of the Song Dynasty. We explore how China nearly started an Industrial Revolution 700 years before Europe, producing more iron in the 11th century than Britain did in the 18th. We’ll also look at why the "Great Divergence" happened: why did a civilization that invented paper money, gunpowder, and advanced metallurgy eventually fall behind the West? From the "geographic luck" of British coal to the impact of the Opium Wars, we break down the twists of history that shifted the global balance of power.

Key Topics Covered:
The massive scale of Song Dynasty cities (Kaifeng vs. London).
Marco Polo’s shock at Chinese technology and coal.
Why Song China's iron industry was centuries ahead of its time.
The "Great Divergence": Geography, colonies, and the rise of the West.
Why history is often "contextual" rather than destined.

References & Sources
Broadberry, Stephen, et al. "China, Europe and the Great Divergence: A Study in Historical National Accounting, 980-1850." University of Warwick, 2017.
Pomeranz, Kenneth. The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy. Princeton University Press, 2000.
Vogel, Hans Ulrich. Marco Polo Was in China: New Evidence from Currencies, Salts and Revenues. Brill, 2013.
Asia for Educators (Columbia University). "The Song Economic Revolution: Iron and Steel."
Hobson, John M. The Eastern Origins of Western Civilisation. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Econlib. "Lessons from Chinese History." (On Song China's industrial potential).


The World. Explained, One Truth at a Time.

Audio Point is a channel where deep analysis meets bold storytelling. We break down the world’s most important social, political, economic, and historical topics — from the truth behind historical events, to modern issues like poverty, corruption, and global inequality.
Each video/audio as the case maybe deliver fact-checked, narrative-driven commentary that challenges conventional history and media bias.

Subscribe if you’re searching for critical perspectives, historical truth, and honest conversation about how power, money, and ideology shape our world.