Contours of the world economy, 1-2030 AD : essays in macro-economic history

Written by a pioneer in the quantitative and macroeconomic analysis of economic history, this book combines qualitative histories with quantitative data. It also seeks a new understanding of the forces of economic growth and development by taking the ultimate long view - the whole of the last millennium - and looking to the future. - ;This book seeks to identify the forces which explain how and why some parts of the world have grown rich and others have lagged behind. Encompassing 2000 years of history, part 1 begins with the Roman Empire and explores the key factors that have influenced econo