Today, the difference in income per head between the world's richest and poorest nations is about 400 to 1, according to retired Harvard University economic historian David Landes. Toward this end, Landes seeks to uncover important economic lessons from history.
Landes finds elements of truth and ideological fantasy in both viewpoints.
His carefully researched and documented study covers an enormous sweep of world economic history. Even small countries like Holland and Portugal became able to dominate far-flung economic colonies. Of note at this stage is the emergent requirement of having money to make money. Landes' conclusions regarding patterns of wealth and poverty in the world most often center around issues of culture. On the other hand, culture does not stand alone.