List of Figures x List of Tables xi Preface xiii Acknowledgments xvii 1 Introduction 1 (26) PART I PROPAGATION OF RULE: A THEORY OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND STAGNATION 2 The Propagation of Rule 27 (20) 3 Historical Origins of Rule Propagation 47 (28) PART II APPLYING THE THEORY: WHY THE WEST GOT RICH AND THE MIDDLE EAST DID NOT 4 Bans on Taking Interest 75 (24) 5 Restrictions on the Printing Press 99 (20) 6 Printing and the Reformation 119 (30) 7 Success: England and the Dutch Republic 149 (20) 8 Stagnation: Spain and the Ottoman Empire 169 (32) 9 Conclusion 201 (20) Notes 221 (24) References 245 (20) Index