Assignment

For this writing assignment please explain why Europe industrialized at 1800, why China had not industrialize at 1800, and what factors existed that suggest that China could have industrialized by 1800.

For this assignment, you should compare similar subjects, though, like government, religion, or culture. You only need to focus on one factor, though. So if you think that political factors were the most important factors that promoted industrialization, then you should compare political factors across time for both regions. Do not compare two different subjects. The goal here is for you to analyze the reasons that certain social, cultural, or political institutions an practices arise in some societies that are the same and why certain institutions, practices and beliefs would arise that are different. Focus on underlying factors that shaped how these societies developed. You essay should contain concrete examples drawn from the textbook that support your claims and indicate familiarity with the information from the book.

There is a real temptation with this assignment to ask the Internet for an answer but please be aware that a number of websites will give answers that are either complicated, outdated, or not congruent with the information in the textbook. Because I really want you to think about this question, I will not accept answers that are clearly not based in your use of information from our textbook, even if I agree that it may not be the only answer to the question.

This assignment should be 550 words at least and not more than 700 words at the most.

Your essay should integrate a direct quote from at least one primary source. This primary source must be used in its proper context, must come from a substantial source (i.e., you may not re-quote using a quote from the textbook, although you can use the "Primary Sources" in the text book), and must be properly referenced in a footnote and in the bibliography. You may find more primary sources at Fordham University's Internet History Sourcebook Project or other online databases but please make sure you are using a primary source and not a secondary source (i.e., it must be written during the time you are studying).