About origins of tech rev, for your book. In case you aren't aware, Francis Bacon in New Organon recommended the scientific study of heat. In New Atlantis he describes his imaginary super-society as containing a showcase of engines! Up to this time, engines would have been driven by horses or wind or water, and be immovable. By implication, the engines in the showcase must be movable, to where they'd be used. The combination of these two ideas points forward to mobile heat engines, an astonishing prophecy.
Great piece. I'm looking forward to the next instalment! There were big trade deficits between England and Italy, which saw ships sometimes go back half empty and often got Italian banks' London branches into trouble. Given this, I've often wondered why English or Scots didn't use the coal to make salt and sell it or salt fish into the Med market - you'd have thought it would make life easier for the Italian traders even at low profit margins. No doubt all will be explained...
Well written. I have been reading and researching the history of technology for 60 years in an attempt to understand the role of discovery, invention and innovation in the evolution of the human society and I was struck by your narrative. It was a treat to read. Thanks
The Baltic Sea truly was the cradle of Northern Europe’s economic development. It’s striking that the key players of that era—Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Nordic countries—remain among the world’s most advanced economies today. The long-lasting influence of commercial traditions and maritime trade is hard to overstate. We see a similar pattern in Asia as well: regions with deep histories of marine commerce, such as Japan and parts of East Asia, continue to be among the most dynamic economies today.
Great article, Anton
Thanks!
About origins of tech rev, for your book. In case you aren't aware, Francis Bacon in New Organon recommended the scientific study of heat. In New Atlantis he describes his imaginary super-society as containing a showcase of engines! Up to this time, engines would have been driven by horses or wind or water, and be immovable. By implication, the engines in the showcase must be movable, to where they'd be used. The combination of these two ideas points forward to mobile heat engines, an astonishing prophecy.
I was waiting for the line “so for the Dutch at this time, grain and butter was their bread and butter.” I’m glad you took the high road.
Gutted I missed this, just like I forgot to work in "gutted" somewhere to do with herring
It is quite proper to keep one’s mind out of the gutter.
New subscriber here. Can't help recalling a recent fictional book about a society based on salt as wealth.
https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Barbarians-Book-J-Lowell-ebook/dp/B09C6PZS3J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1C8EGL0A36BBW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZzesshsZuxRsPF4krZCTlv2zrl7ICo4VPynJlfpE3nEvwn7gyJJnkhElcBttMf-NHguQng8QkpKtqUVGmqn3K5eqGB3usmvSGNZ1-7n0SHktVGMi171Pm7IA3s67WiMGHlLEf7cN_n7O5SUhbaLp1qd6HxXAGUEGEP0yuWdyxII.PYDaTh1WMVjex5eKRwgpVP2tNhuiQ02osTYfwFjbLJ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=nathan+lowell+salt&qid=1728170702&sprefix=nathan+lowell+salt%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1
Great piece. I'm looking forward to the next instalment! There were big trade deficits between England and Italy, which saw ships sometimes go back half empty and often got Italian banks' London branches into trouble. Given this, I've often wondered why English or Scots didn't use the coal to make salt and sell it or salt fish into the Med market - you'd have thought it would make life easier for the Italian traders even at low profit margins. No doubt all will be explained...
Mr. Howes,
Well written. I have been reading and researching the history of technology for 60 years in an attempt to understand the role of discovery, invention and innovation in the evolution of the human society and I was struck by your narrative. It was a treat to read. Thanks
The Baltic Sea truly was the cradle of Northern Europe’s economic development. It’s striking that the key players of that era—Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Nordic countries—remain among the world’s most advanced economies today. The long-lasting influence of commercial traditions and maritime trade is hard to overstate. We see a similar pattern in Asia as well: regions with deep histories of marine commerce, such as Japan and parts of East Asia, continue to be among the most dynamic economies today.