[inglor_cz]

"what powered Europe's economic growth in the 18th century, let me know"

The growth in 19th century is much more explosive, and I would say that the primary reason is widespread use of coal for energy. Not being dependent on the power of muscles (and wind) was a game changer for Europe. And absence of that capability put a hard limit on Roman economic power. You just don't gain much economic efficiency from burning wood and working people and animals to death.

Economic development in countries that were able to harness steam power was enormous regardless of their slavery laws (some notable industrial hotspots like Prussia never had slavery to begin with). Countries like Portugal and Spain, with their old colonial empires, were much more stagnant.

Generally, slavery only sort-of works in agriculture and possibly mining. Anything more value-added requires voluntary, educated workforce. Nazi and Soviet slave-powered industries were extremely inefficient, sabotage was a constant problem, even though punishments were heavy.

[orange8]

Rich nations are exactly like poor people. If you are lucky to grow up privileged, your path to success is very easy compared to someone who group up poor. Rich nations inherited the loot from slavery, and used it to power their innovation.

That is because Rich nations have the luxury to turn their attention and resources to the sciences and arts, once the basic necessities of life have been taken care of. Europe hardly made any progress during its so called "dark ages".

Yes, slavery as a mass industry became economically obsolete due to advances in science. That does not mean it was not very lucrative and beneficial to the those economies on the right side of it while it lasted. A study of human history is just one of the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer, until the next revolution comes about.

[inglor_cz]

"Rich nations inherited the loot from slavery, and used it to power their innovation."

The correlation between contemporary richness and former slavery is pretty weak. Many innovative countries like Ireland, Finland, Estonia, Taiwan or South Korea used to be actually subjugated to bigger empires. Meanwhile, no one considers Portugal, a major global power during the slavery era, rich or innovative.

Even in the US, the Deep South was technologically backward, which was one of the reasons why they actually lost the Civil War. If you have servants working on you, what is your motivation to study, tinker and innovate? Similar countries of today (such as Saudi Arabia) mostly spend their own loot of slavery on conspicuous consumption.

[nec4b]

Your interpretation of history is upside down. Rich nations existed before slavery, that is how they were able to afford slaves in the first place. On the other hand a lot of African tribal chiefs earned a lot of money by selling captives into slavery and yet had nothing to show for.

>> Europe hardly made any progress during its so called "dark ages".

I recommend you reading a history book or two before making such claims.