1. “In the eighteenth century, China, India, and Europe were broadly comparable in terms of their level of economic development, standard of living, and people’s life expectancy.” (Marks, p. 127). Prof. Clague thinks this statement is wrong. Can you find data in the Allen book, in the Reader tables, or elsewhere that contradict Marks’s statement? Describe this evidence, giving your sources.
2. In Europe in the period 1820-1860, the “early modernizers” included Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland. The laggards in this period included Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Austria. What features of the economy and society characterized the early modernizers, in comparison to the laggards? (See Landes, Chap 16).