This book is a comprehensive study of the economic development of nations, including an analysis of factors that contribute to wealth and poverty. The author provides historical context and discusses the evolution of industry, from the early days of agriculture to the modern era of technology and manufacturing. This is an important book for anyone interested in economics and the development of nations. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.