And probably reality is somewhere in between; catholicism in its rigidness causing novelty in science or economic activity to stop and Italian wealthy class git complacent and happy to oblige by focusing on rent and land rather than venturing further with new industrial techniques or trade routes.
compare Braudel's argument about financialization with Arrighi's The long XXth centiury
Brilliant read, enlightening, thanks.
And probably reality is somewhere in between; catholicism in its rigidness causing novelty in science or economic activity to stop and Italian wealthy class git complacent and happy to oblige by focusing on rent and land rather than venturing further with new industrial techniques or trade routes.
Is it important that they were city-states succeeded by nation-states?