S8 Ep1123: Headline: The Great Divergence and Geopolitical Climate Shocks Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed

The John Batchelor Show · Jul 13, 2026 · 7m

Headline: The Great Divergence and Geopolitical Climate Shocks Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title:The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The "Great Divergence" explains why Europe accelerated in science and technology over Asia despite the latter's long history of learning. Frankopan suggests that geography played a crucial role; for example, England's coal fields were located near its capital and waterways, whereas China's were far from its population centers, making exploitation expensive. Additionally, while China's efficient bureaucracy stifled new ideas, European competition…