[Kallinikos]

I've always been very impressed by this paper (Science)
The use of lead for industrial purpose as well as silver extraction, induces the release of atmospheric lead which is then captured by arctic ice.
By analyzing Greenland samples, it was shown that production levels of lead were only matched by 18th century Europe for the North hemisphere, while other civilizations emissions were only marginal.

Here a wikipedia graphic
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/57/World_Lead_Production.jpg

So it's consistent with the estimates of economic historians such as Rostovtzeff and others, who consider that the material high of Rome, peaking in the 2nd century, was only matched in 18th century europe.

Yep, even for all its shortcomings the Roman society seem indeed to have gone as far. Despite the deep differences in structure and technology, one cannot help to wonder again and again why it couldn't industrialize and why it collapsed so hard.
This was something I brought to a discussion elsewhere in this forum, the reflexion is derived from Aldo Schiavone's "The End of the Past: Ancient Rome and the Modern West" but there are lot of other works and thinkers who touched on this issue

[Kman]

Despite the deep differences in structure and technology, one cannot help to wonder again and again why it couldn't industrialize and why it collapsed so hard.

Depends on what you mean by industrializing, there were plenty of highly specialized companies in the Roman Republic that produced various things, from what I have read it seems that the division of labor was pretty sophisticated in Roman times.

As for why it collapsed I would say its because it embraced socialism too much and rejected individual responsibility and capitalism, at the end of the Roman Empire it was practically impossible to be an independant entrepreneur since the private sector was hounded by the Roman State (which was basicly a huge ravenous beast starving for resources at that point), this in turn caused the economy to de-specialize and become more and more primitive until the Roman Empire collapsed completely.

[noemon]

The western half collapsed because it was overrun. There is not really much more into it.

Respect to Rostovtzeff.

[Thunderhawk]

I don't have access to download the article, sigh..

The primary uses of lead have evolved over the centuries, changing the level of lead used which implies different levels of by-products. Does the article address changing need and usage of lead or does it treat lead usage as a static percentage of industrial production?

Any chance of checking iron usage?

[Social_Critic]

I think lead consumption and emissions are a faulty measure, because the romans used lead for everything, and later on copper, bronze, cast iron, and other metals became more common. Intensive lead use may have been what caused the Roman collapse, they must have had brain damage from lead. And there's nothing like a dummy running things to ruin things, just look at what happened to the US economy and military power under Bush (Dubya was brain damaged by alcohol and cocaine use, and not by lead poisoning).