How did Europe become the richest part of the world?
This is a very simplistic article. Having a region with competing states is a recognized dimension in the development of Europe and China, but there are others as well which are presumably more important. As F.Fukuyama writes: rule of law, accountability, a state. And as Acemoglu and Robinson write: clear and stable laws that encourage people to invest and develop businesses. Conquering and pillaging colonies, and selling and buying slaves, must be accounted for as well.