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The kind of colonization that happened in America also happened in several other places, again and again, through history. In no other case is was followed by an industrial revolution.

In fact, China was just fading away from a very similar boom when Europe started expanding. And the Otomans have had their own boom some centuries before.

And China did develop a mechanical press, and decided to control an censor it too. But I don't think the GP is correct on using that as a strong cause.




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