What were the major reasons for the lack of sustained growth before mo

What were the major reasons for the lack of sustained growth before modern times?

What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER

There were two main reasons for the lack of sustained growth before modern times. These were:
a) The pace of technological change before the year 1800 was slow and almost stagnant compared to what came thereafter.
b) Whatever improvements in income or GDP were realized went to feed an increasing population rather than in an attempt to increase the GDP per capita.