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The geographical factors are connected with Europe’s isolation from the Indian Ocean trade, a driving force of development in the East. At the same time, Europe enjoyed its commercial growth in the Mediterranean region. Moreover, crusades allowed Europe to expand geographically and influenced the cultural peculiarities of certain countries. For example, Spanish Reconquista was based on religious ideas and aimed to free Spain from Muslims and Jews (Wiesner-Hanks, 2017). The Islamic “wedge” became a bridge for Europe since it enhanced interaction between these regions and allowed to transfer knowledge, skills, goods, and inventions (Wiesner-Hanks, 2017). Therefore, the European spirit of crusade brought diversity to Europe, but legitimized the “just war” concept and threatened the independence of Eastern countries.
The political factors include fragmentation and competition between European kingdoms. For example, the Treaty of Verdun (843) divided the Carolingian Empire into three parts among the three sons of Louis I (Wiesner-Hanks, 2017). Another difference between East and West was that in European countries, legislation was above government. The Magna Carta (1215) can be viewed as a solution to the political crisis; it emphasized that the government should obey the law (Wiesner-Hanks, 2017). On the contrary, sprawling Eastern empires implied the superior role of the emperor. Secular and religious powers in Europe often confronted each other, unlike in Islamic countries. For example, the Investiture Controversy increased the significance of great dukes and abbots in government.
European society of that time was characterized by the system of formative capitalism. For example, property rights expanded the legislation concerning the utilization of technology and led to the legitimacy of ownership. Cultural divergence is reflected in European and Eastern philosophy and scholasticism. European religious studies, connecting Christian and Greek beliefs, implied the rational proof of God (Wiesner-Hanks, 2017). The main difference with the East was that Islam focused on reason as a path to God.
In terms of technology, many inventions belong to the Eastern countries. For example, the printing press appeared in China, though it was tightly controlled by the monarchy. In Europe, it became more widespread and played a more significant role in education, communication, and other spheres (Wiesner-Hanks, 2017). The same impact had gunpowder, which was first invented in China but arrived in Europe later. The Gunpowder Revolution in Europe changed the common military practices and made European countries more powerful. Therefore, even though the East developed earlier, its inventions had more significance in Europe.
Reference
Wiesner-Hanks, M. E. (2017). A history of world societies (11th ed.). Macmillan Higher Education.
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