Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Preface -- Introduction -- The Great Divergence -- Technological Change in China and Europe between c. 700 and 1800 -- Religion, the Economy and Technology Before 1800: Different Views -- Weberian Themes and the Little Divergence -- Latin Christendom and China -- Evaluation -- A Long-Term Comparative Approach -- Aims, Concepts and Approach -- Plan and Argument of This Book -- 1 Religion and Visions on the Uses of Nature in China and Europe -- Visions of Nature and the Great Divergence -- Visions in Latin Christendom -- Visions before Latin Christendom -- Visions in China -- Visions of Nature and the Little Divergence -- Conclusion -- 2 Religion and Human Capital Formation in China and Europe -- Variations in Human Capital Formation -- Religious Institutions and Formal Learning -- From Divergence to Convergence and Back Again -- Variations in Vocational and Technical Education -- Religious Institutions and Informal Learning -- Conclusion -- 3 Religion and the Circulation of Technical Knowledge in China and Europe -- Religion and the Circulation of Technical Knowledge Before 1500 -- Patterns of Circulation -- Religious Travelling -- Comparisons -- Religion and the Circulation of Technical Knowledge After 1500 -- Texts, Images and Artefacts -- Movements of People -- Collection, Storage and Accessibility of Information -- Conclusion -- 4 Religion and Technical Innovation in China and Europe -- Religion, Technical Innovation and the Great Divergence -- Religious Institutions as Innovators -- Religious and Secular Settings of Innovation -- Incentives for Innovation -- Comparing Creativity in China and Europe -- Religion, Technical Innovation and the Little Divergence -- Common Trajectories -- Divergences in Creativity in Europe -- Technological Creativity and Religious Contexts -- Conclusion -- Conclusion.

Bibliography -- Index.