[marktwain]

Without the thinking that resulted in Capitalism, the Roman steam engine was just good for opening temple doors.

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There is truth in your comment. However, there is also the slow accumulation of technology in metallurgy, practical chemistry before the understanding of elements and molecules, the ability to record measurements which comes with the adoption of an easily usable number system.

Then there is the ability to record such things on media which is relatively cheap and reproducible, such as paper.

All these things were part of what were necessary for the Scientific revolution and the Industrial revolution.

[Carry_Okie]

Good post. There are lots of subtleties to what makes a developing economy.

Then there is the ability to record such things on media which is relatively cheap and reproducible, such as paper.

As paper gets cheaper, books move "down market" to children who learn early enough to build upon what they had been taught. Life spans were short, and a productive adulthood even shorter.