Faith, Fortune and Fate

Why Europeans Ruled the World

Capitalism = Competition

redefinition of wealth: where it could come from

land = safe, money = liquid therefore you could drown

Capitalism: organization of capital, labour and raw materials to generate surplus wealth

Want Wealth?

Compete for it -

merchants and monarchs finance ships to travel abroad

Spice route to India and a Silk Road (on water) to China

trad. routes interrupted by sacking of Constantinople by the Turks

technology (he with the biggest

guns...)quadrant and astrolabe - no need for sight of land

mapmaking improved

sailing ships

blessed with Atlantic seaboard, and cracking code of Atlantic wind systems

Pacific Ocean much more perilous, Indian Ocean had massive Monsoon season

Saving Soulsin reaction to the growth of the Islamic Empire

desire to win converts began competition between Catholics and Protestants

Colonies became safe havens for Quakers, Mennonites and Puritans

p 109-111

Guns, Germs and Steel

How Pizarro conquered the Incan Empire