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Many historians have struggled with the reasons as to why Europe claimed ascendency over China. There is speculation that importing gold and silver helped Europe quite a bit as well as the steam engine. Historians have also observed China's continuing resistance to learn from other civilizations. One thing that helped Europe to gain hegemony is the ability to import large amounts of bullion into the West. There were no special qualities that lead Europe into …

…in the world. Everything seemed to fall into place the way it needed to though. Europe made all the right moves, such as taking advantage of new technology and the knowledge of other civilizations. While China made all the wrong moves, such as rejecting ideas of other civilizations and drawing back from trade. It is hard to understand why Europe gained global hegemony but it is not hard to understand that they did obtain hegemony.