Europe & The Near East: The Presence And Absence Of Metals
About this ebook
Metals queries the assumption of the earlier advantage of
the West in attaining industrialization. Professor Goody
contends that the Near East (an area which includes the
Middle East) started what archaeologists call civilization
with the Bronze Age, developing its own renaissance and
extension of trade influencing Europe. However, it was
always handicapped by the absence of iron and coal. And
it was the plentiful exploitation of these in Britain, with
the help of German metallurgists, that made way for the
industrial revolution in Europe, rather than any Protestant
ethic which represents a Europeanist point of view.
About the author
Professor Jack R. Goody kbe is an acclaimed social anthropologist, writer, Fellow of the
British Academy, and Emeritus William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology at St.
John's College, University of Cambridge. He is also one of the world’s pre-eminent social
scientists. A prolific author he has published over 20 books on a number of diverse subjects
including kinship, literacy, culture, and history.
