On the one hand the rich industrialized countries, on the other the poor developing and emerging nations. Beginning in the 18th century Europe experienced enormous economic development surpassing that of the rest of the world. What are the reasons? Chance, exploitation, inherent circumstances in Europe? The disparate relationship between the different parts of the world still exists - and continues to challenge historians to produce plausible explanations. In this volume Peer Vries makes well-founded and masterful arguments concerning the reasons behind these developments and offers his own complex explanation.