THE SHAPE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY

In: Studies in comparative international development, Band 22, Heft 4, S. 3-25

Abstract

THE AUTHOR'S THEORY IS THAT HISTORY HAS A BIAS IN ITS STRESS ON THE WEST WINNING OUT OVER THE EAST IN DEVELOPMENT IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY. SHE HYPOTHESIZES THAT REORGANIZATION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM AT THIS TIME FAVORING THE WEST IS AT LEAST AS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SYSTEMIC GEOPOLITICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CAUSES AS TO ANY CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS INHERENT IN THE EAST OR THE WEST. THE EAST WAS IN MANY WAYS MORE ADVANCED IN "CAPITALISTIC" COMMERCE, INVENTIONS AND IN NAVAL POWER (IN CHINA). SHE LISTS OCCURRENCES IN THE VARIOUS SUBSYSTEMS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE "RISE" OF THE WEST. HOW DID THIS SHIFT IN DEVELOPMENT OCCUR? WHAT WEAKNESSES EXISTED IN THE OLD BALANCE? ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS, SHE SAYS, IS THE ULTIMATE AIM OF HER RESEARCH.