Kenneth Pomeranz
Kenneth Pomeranz is a prominent American historian, known for his work on China, the environment, and the world economy. He is particularly famous for his book 'The Great Divergence: China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy', which explores the reasons behind the economic divergence between the Western world and China after 1800. Pomeranz is a professor of history at the University of Chicago and has received numerous awards for his contributions to historical scholarship.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Great Divergence
This book challenges traditional views on the rise of the Western world's economic dominance, arguing that until the late 18th century, parts of Europe, China, Japan, and the Islamic world were similarly advanced. The author contends that geographical and ecological factors, rather than inherent cultural or technological superiority, played a crucial role in Europe's industrialization. Specifically, the availability of coal in Britain and the exploitation of the New World's resources are highlighted as pivotal in creating the "Great Divergence" between the West and the rest of the world. Through this lens, the book reevaluates the roots of global inequality and the factors that have shaped the modern economic landscape.
The 6669th Greatest Book of All Time
