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ReOrient
In Andre Gunder Frank’s *ReOrient*, we dismantle the centuries-old Eurocentric myth that’s shaped Western historical thought. Frank argues that from 1400 to 1800, Asia—not Europe—was the true core of the global economy. Led by China and India, Asian nations boasted larger populations, higher productivity, and far more robust trade networks than their European counterparts. China, in particular, acted as the world’s ultimate 'silver sink,' drawing massive amounts of silver from the Americas and Japan to fuel its economic expansion. Europe, by contrast, was a marginal player, relying on stolen American silver to even participate in the Asian-dominated trade system. Frank debunks false claims about European 'superiority' in technology, institutions, and culture, showing that Europe’s later rise stemmed from global economic shifts, not inherent greatness. This book is a call to abandon narrow, Europe-focused narratives and embrace a truly global perspective to understand the world economy’s evolution.
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