[Cronos]

During the time you speak of, there was no industry--everything was at a handcart/oxen/small farmer level.

Not really -- both the countries had thriving "industries" -- they manufactured textiles (silks from China, cotton from India), intricate jewellery and also had farms that supplied the world with spices etc. It wasn't as simple as largest population, largest GDP. These two were also at the forefront of education, then they stagnated for various reasons. The US should NOT allow the same to happen to itself.

[grey_whiskers]

Not really -- both the countries had thriving "industries" -- they manufactured textiles (silks from China, cotton from India), intricate jewellery and also had farms that supplied the world with spices etc.

Sorry, poor writing on my part. I was thinking modern industry, i.e. mechanization.

These two were also at the forefront of education, then they stagnated for various reasons. The US should NOT allow the same to happen to itself.

We need to reinstate compulsory Latin and plane geometry classes like the Brits used to teach. That's how they took over the world.

Cheers!