At a time when globalization is seen as one of the most important characteristics of our present-day world, it is not surprising that the debate on the roots of it takes a very prominent place in historical writing. A growing tendency to see one interconnected world today has created a need to write a history of such a world.

Two big issues dominate this field, and economic development plays a fundamental role in both. The first approach to world history looks for an explanation for global economic divergence. Economical, but also cultural and technological advantages have been incorporated into macro-historical accounts explaining the different speeds of growth of different regions. Rationalization, specific cultural, social or legal underpinnings of societies, religion, political systems and technological development all have been analysed as reasons why some regions of Western Europe were able to experience a unique economic growth. A body of literature confirming European superiority has been questioned by opposing scholars who argue that the gap between the West and the rest of the world was not as wide as is sometimes assumed. An important part of their analysis is that many of the qualities considered present in European societies were not as unique as they are sometimes made out to be. Part of this critique stems from the fact that the analysis of difference has too often been directed by a biased methodological point of view, complemented by a lack of empirical knowledge of non-Western source material.